usrentacar.co.uk ® Car Hire USA Blog

Hi all,

Yesterday we began our Orlando Flex Ticket sale, fans of our facebook page were the first to see the details and many took advantage of this limited time sale.

What is the Orlando FlexTicket

The Orlando FlexTicket offers the ultimate flexibility for all your thrill park needs, offering 14 days unlimited access to Aquatica, Universal’s Islands of Adventure (including the Wizarding World of Harry Potter), SeaWorld, Universal Studio’s and Wet N’ Wild.

How much does it cost?

The usual price of the Flex Ticket direct is  £183.00

However…

The usrentacar.co.uk sale price is £159.00 including p&p and no CC charges!!

First use must occur by 31/12/2011.

How do I book?

Give us a call on 0845 226 8523 and we’ll be happy to either add it to your existing car rental booking or make you a fresh order.

Alternatively, if you haven’t booked your Florida Car Hire yet you can add the Orlando Flex Ticket during the booking process.

regards,

James

Hi all,

Yesterday I began describing my top 5 roller coasters in Florida, my first choice was Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit located in Universal Studios Florida.

Today’s choice is Manta located within SeaWorld, Orlando. I almost didn’t get to ride this one as my visit coincided with torrential rain and lightening. As with all parks in Florida, all the rides shut when lightening’s about!

Manta at SeaWorld

The unique thing about Manta is your riding position, unlike traditional roller coasters instead of riding as if sitting down, the ride takes you round the 3,359 feet of track face down, giving the illusion of flying.

Manta includes four inversions and reaches speeds in excess of 56 mph. Statistically, this makes Manta the second-longest (3,359 ft), tallest (140 ft) and fastest (56 mph) flying roller coaster in the world.

Officially Manta lasts 2 mins 35 seconds, in reality it seems much quicker, at its peak it serves 1500 rides per hour and boasts a G-Force rating of 3.7, what’s not to like

Manta starts of with a  climb of 140-foot. At the top, you take your first  dive down towards the right and then swoops upward, don’t forget to smile as you pass the on-ride photo camera located to before you begin the 98-foot pretzel loop.

You then dive head first to the ground and then climb back to the top of the element. Next up you take a U-turn to the left through the pretzel loop, after which it encounters a counter-clockwise inline twist. As Manta exits the twist, it enters a 270-degree downward helix to the right, passing close to the ground below and crossing through the pretzel loop a second time as it enters its first corkscrew. After the corkscrew, the train climbs up above the station’s return track and reaches the mid-course brake run.

Manta enters the second part of the course by diving down towards a lagoon near the theme park entrance, banking to the right as it approaches. The wings of the lead car appear to skim the surface, kicking up a splash of water (created instead by timed water jets).

The train rises, still banked to the right, before diving again, this time towards a waterfall as it continues turning to the right. After missing the waterfall by inches, Manta then enters its final inversion, a second corkscrew, prior to a final U-turn leading to the final brake run and the return to the station.

Manta’s riding position gives you a truly unique experience, trying to stop the urge not to put your hands out to protect yourself on a few of the drops is impossible.

The talking point for this ride is definitely how close to the ground you think you are… in reality you’re nowhere near it.

usrentacar.co.uk offer great rates of Florida attraction tickets the Orlando Flex Ticket or the Bonus  tickets get you entry in to SeaWorld for up to 14 days.

What’s your favourite Theme Park Ride?

regards,

James

Hi all,

Recently I had the chance to sit down with our Managing Director, Gavin Boswell to discuss his recent trip to Orlando, we actually featured his review of the newly open Cheetah Hunt last week.

The idea of this interview was not to be in depth but just to get some quick fire answers. I think the more bulky answer are probably best suited to a podcast. Anyway the interview took place in Gavin’s office roughly 3 days after his return.

Interview

James: Favourite Theme Park?

Gavin: Universal’s Islands of Adventure. The Marvel themed area is great, big, bright and in my opinion full of the best rides.

J: Favourite ride?

G: Tricky one. I love loads of them, I liked Cheetah Hunt, the new ride down at Busch Gardens, I think the Spider-Man 3d ride at Islands of Adventure is amazing and once they’ve completed the upgrade to the new software, it will be even better.  I’m a big fan of the Hulk Coaster and I like Kraken at SeaWorld but I think for an overall experience I’d have to go with Manta.

J: Why?

G: Its the fact that its something different, facing down, looking straight at the ground gives you a totally different ride experience than anything else in Florida.  Loved it.

J: What was your opinion of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter?

G: I was truly blown away, the level of detail is quite astonishing. You can see all the hard work they have obviously put in. If you have a child who is in to Harry Potter, then Ollivanders Wand Shop is a must, be prepared to queue and also to end up parting with your hard earned cash but it is quite magical… Sorry couldn’t resist.

J: and did you enjoy The Forbidden Journey Ride?

G: Ha James! You know I didn’t…. I admit it, I can’t handle motion based rides. They make me feel very sick. I tried my best to enjoy it but basically had my eyes closed the entire time. The other people I rode with told me it was very good though!

J: Best Memory?

G: Hmm, tricky cos there were loads but feeding Giraffes at Busch Gardens and Dolphins at SeaWorld are pretty high up there… Oh and singing madly on Rip Ride Rockit then having the embarrassment of watching it back as a video afterwards!

J: Hidden Gem?

G: Well its not exactly hidden but I really enjoyed Wet N’ Wild, the water park run by Universal. I believe, and I could be wrong but it has the most group based rides of any theme park in America! Its something like that anyway. The rides aren’t that scary but they are great fun.

J: Top tip?

G: Wear comfy shoe’s, I wore flip flops and they destroyed my feet in less than 30 mins. Did you know you’re not allowed to walk round the parks bear footed? Well you do now!

Sorry it was only a short interview but Gavin’s a pretty busy man (or so he tells us). We have something scheduled for late August to sit down and podcast his impressions of Orlando, so once this is done we’ll pop it up.

regards,

James

Hi all,

Just a quick reminder that we still have some Universal 2-Park Bonus tickets available for the very attractive price of only £85.00 per adult this includes NO CC charges and FREE postage.

To take advantage of this great price please call our reservations department on 0845 226 8523.

About the 2-Park Bonus Ticket

Enjoy the best of Universal Orlando^® Resort! Receive admission to Universal Studios Florida^® andUniversal’s Islands of Adventure^® theme parks, plus all-club access to the live entertainment at Universal CityWalk^®, for up to fourteen (14) consecutive days.

Universal Orlando Resort^® offers not one, but TWO amazing theme parks side-by-side, non-stop nightlife, and world-class on-site hotels, all within easy walking distance. Jump right into the action of the movies at Universal Studios Florida^®, the world’s premier movie and TV-based theme park. Experience the thrills of Universal’s Islands of Adventure^®, where legendary stories and best-loved fictional characters come to life on the most innovative rides and attractions ever created. Enjoy live music, dining, dancing, shopping, movies and more at The Entertainment Capital of Orlando^SM,Universal CityWalk^® – home of the incomparable Blue Man Group.

Universal Studios
Go beyond the screen and jump into the action of your favourite films and TV shows at the world’s premier movie and TV based theme park. Careen and crash your way through Krustyland in the wild and hilarious The Simpsons Ride™.  Experience the fun and excitement of Revenge of the Mummy^®, Shrek 4-D™, MEN IN BLACK™ Alien Attack™ and more. Take your music for a ride^SM on Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit^®, the most interactive and personalized roller coaster ever!

Universal’s Islands of Adventure

Take an unforgettable journey through remarkably themed islands where all your favourite myths, legends, comic books, cartoons and children’s stories come to life.  Experience innovative rides, shows and interactive attractions that challenge all your senses, including The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man^®, Jurassic Park River Adventure^® and The Cat in the Hat™.

Universal CityWalk —The Entertainment Capital of Orlando^SM
Enjoy the best in live music, casual and fine dining, dancing, shopping, movies and more at Universal CityWalk, The Entertainment Capital of Orlando^SM. Enjoy a range of cuisine from Emeril’s^® Restaurant Orlando to Jimmy Buffett’s^® Margaritaville^® and the world’s largest Hard Rock Cafe^®. Blue Man Group, of unique live music, unexpected humour, and lots of paint!

Regards,

James

Hi all,

Following on from yesterdays 2010 Top 20 USA Theme Parks By Attendance I thought I’d share with you the 2010 Worldwide theme park attendance figures.

Top 25 Worldwide Theme Parks

1. Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom
2. Disneyland
3. Tokyo Disneyland
4. Tokyo DisneySea
5. Epcot
6. Disneyland Paris
7. Disney’s Animal Kingdom
8. Disney’s Hollywood Studios
9. Universal Studios Japan
10. Everland, Gyeonggi-Do, South Korea
11. Disney California Adventure
12. Universal’s Islands of Adventure
13. Universal Studios Florida
14. Lotte World, Seoul, South Korea
15. Hong Kong Disneyland
16. SeaWorld Orlando
17. Ocean Park, Hong Kong
18. Universal Studios Hollywood
19. Walt Disney Studios Paris
20. Nagashima Spa Land, Kuwana, Japan
21. Europa Park
22. Busch Gardens Tampa
23. Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise, Yokohama, Japan
24. De Eftleing
25. SeaWorld San Diego

Amazing to see how dominate Disney still remain, the Potter factor has obviously helped Universal in 2010 but how long can it continue?

What are your thoughts?

regards,

James

Hi all,

Apologies for the lack of posts recently, I’ve just returned from a great trip to Orlando, where I got exclusive access to some of the greatest parks and rides in Florida, I will be blogging about that later, however while I was away the 2010 USA theme park attendance results were posted.

U.S. Top 20 for 2010:

1. Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, 16.92 million, -1.5%
2. Disneyland, 15.98 million, +0.5%
3. Epcot, 10.83 million, -1.5%
4. Disney’s Animal Kingdom, 9.69 million, +1.0%, up one position
5. Disney’s Hollywood Studios, 9.60 million, -1.0%, down one position
6. Disney California Adventure, 6.28 million, +3.0%
7. Universal’s Islands of Adventure, 5.95 million, +30.2%, up two positions
8. Universal Studios Florida, 5.93 million, +6.1%
9. SeaWorld Orlando, 5.10 million, -12.1%, down two positions
10. Universal Studios Hollywood, 5.04 million, +26.0%
11. Busch Gardens Tampa, 4.20 million, +2.4%, up one position
12. SeaWorld San Diego, 3.80 million, -9.5%, down one position
13. Knott’s Berry Farm, 3.60 million, +8.0%
14. Canada’s Wonderland, 3.38 million, +7.0%
15. Kings Island, 3.11 million, +3.7%
16. Cedar Point, 3.05 million, +3.7%
17. Hersheypark, 2.89 million, +3.0%, up one position
18. Busch Gardens Williamsburg, 2.80 million, -3.4%, down one position
19. Six Flags Great Adventure, 2.70 million, +2.5%
20. Six Flags Great America, 2.70 million, +10.2%

Having a quick look at these attendance figures the most striking statistic is the huge popularity of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which has helped Universal Islands of Adventure increase attendance by 30.2% to 5.95 Million.

Regards,

James,

Hi all,

Following on from yesterday’s How do eTickets work at Universal, today I will talk about how the eTicket work’s at SeaWorld, Aquatica and Busch Gardens.

Probably the most technically advanced of all the parks SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment’s eTickets do not have to be exchanged.

• Once purchased the customer receives an email with the tickets attached, each ticket has a bar code.
• When the customer visits the appropriate park, they go straight to the gate (pictured) .
• No need to queue at guest services or go to the self service ticket machines.
• At the gates, simply scan your eTicket for entry. (pictured)

With the 2 Park Ticket or the 3 Park Ticket, entering the parks couldn’t be easier. Remember with an eTicket if it gets damaged or wet simply print off another one!!!

I hope this helps, please feel free to write about your own experiences below.

regards,

James

Hi all,

Only 5 days left until the 3 parks for the price of 2 special offer ends!!!…

At the moment you can get 14 consecutive days admission to Aquatica, SeaWorld Orlando, and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.

For the low price of only £71 per adult, £65 per child, this includes delivery and still no credit card fee’s.

Summary

• Enjoy 14 days unlimited admission to Aquatica™, SeaWorld Orlando® and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay for the price of the 2-park SeaWorld and Busch Gardens ticket!
• Get Aquatica for FREE!
• 14 consecutive days admission to Aquatica, SeaWorld Orlando, and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.
• Free bus transportation is available to Busch Gardens on the Busch Gardens Shuttle Express. This service departs from various locations in the International Drive and Kissimmee areas (subject to change). Reservations are a must and can be made by calling 1-800-221-1339.

To Book

You can either add these tickets to your car hire booking during the reservation process or alterntively you can contact our reservations department on 0845 226 8523 and speak to our reservations department.

Regards,

James

Hi all,

Just had notice that SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment will be  issuing a rate increase effective as of the 01/06/11.

The very popular 3 parks for the price of 2 is due to expire and will be replaced by the standard pricing.

At present you can still purchase the 3 Park Ticket for the very low price of £71.00 including entry in to SeaWorld, Busch Gardens and Aquatica with no Credit Card or delivery charges. To take advantage please call our reservations department on 0845 226 8523, you do not have to have booked a rental car with us to take advantage of these great rates.

I have no official pricing to confirm yet however it does appear to be an increase of approximately £5 per ticket.

Tickets available will be

3-Park Ticket – SeaWorld, Busch Gardens and Aquatica.

2-Park Ticket – SeaWorld & Busch Gardens or SeaWorld & Aquatica.

regards,

James

Hi all,

Not only do we offer amazingly cheap florida car hire but we are now offering you a better deal on your theme park tickets.

At the moment and for a limited time, usrentacar.co.uk is offering the popular  3-Park SeaWorld®, Aquatica® and Busch Gardens Ticket for an incredible £71.00 per adult and £65.00 per child.

The ticket offers 14 days unlimited admission to Aquatica®, Busch Gardens and SeaWorld® offering truly great value.

Not only are we offering these tickets at a great price we promise not to add on any nasty extra’s like credit card charges or delivery charges.

So don’t delay, book today by calling usrentacar.co.uk on 0845 226 8523.

regards,

James