DESTINATIONS — THEME PARKS & ATTRACTIONS
Parc Asterix
the streets of Universal Studios Florida come alive with a horde of horrifying mutants, monsters and maniacs. Explore terrifying haunted houses, scare zones and outrageous live shows.” These run on selected dates between September 25 and October 31. Things are no less scary this side of the pond: Thorpe Park’s Fright Nights in October and November are only for over-13s, with rides running until 10pm and mazes based on The Blair Witch Project, My Bloody Valentine and Saw. Packages are set to go on sale through SuperBreak shortly.
l TWIN TO WIN Gold Medal’s Mark White says: “We are seeing a growing number
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort
Cirque du Soleil Amaluna
of adults twinning the theme parks of Orlando with a break at one of the beaches in Florida, which are as close as 40 minutes away. This offers the best of both worlds, with excitement and thrills followed by rest and relaxation.” City breaks also benefit
from a theme park add-on to break up serious sightseeing. Attraction World offers tickets to PortAventura with transfers to and from Barcelona (£67 including entry). With Cirque du Soleil Amaluna providing entertainment this summer (from £39) and FerrariLand opening in spring 2016, it’s well worth a trip. Travelcube can, likewise, offer
Paris pick-ups for guests keen to revisit memories of the famous French comics at Park Asterix (from £57), while Dutch theme park Efteling, which is ramping up its UK presence, is only an hour from Amsterdam.
l AFTER DARK With Downtown Disney transforming into Disney Springs – more than doubling the number of
restaurants, bars, shops and entertainment venues to 150 by 2016 – and Universal
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travelweekly.co.uk — 12 March 2015
boasting 12-hectare entertainment complex CityWalk, there’s no shortage of places to go after dark. Funway Holidays marketing
executive Rebecca Evans says: “One of my favourite restaurants is Cowfish, CityWalk’s first and only sushi burger bar. After dinner, head to Rising Star, complete with live band and karaoke classics. “At Walt Disney World, check out the BoardWalk. Here you can find the best fish supper at the Flying Fish Café, then after dinner, go to Jellyrolls piano bar for last orders.”
l STAY COOL Themed rooms and character bedspreads are the coolest thing ever to an eight-year-old, but be sure to send child-free couples or groups of friends to a hotel that suits their lifestyle.
Spa-goers should try the Loews
Portofino Bay Hotel for its award- winning 14-room Mandara Spa, while those who prefer partying to pampering can try the newly refurbished Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando Resort, near the bars and clubs of CityWalk. Trade-only bed bank
Themeparkbeds.com suggests Disney’s Port Orleans Resort for the same reason, as it is near Downtown Disney, while its Creole
vibe and jazz club give it a more mature feel. For groups of friends, though, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort is a budget-friendly option, with rooms sleeping up to five. TW
SAMPLE PRODUCT
A week at Universal’s Loews
Portofino Bay Hotel starts at £1,129 with Funway Holidays, including Virgin Atlantic flights from Gatwick on November 26. Park entry is extra.
funway4agents.co.uk
Travel 2 offers five nights at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles, with a Universal Hollywood VIP Experience and
transfers, from £1,349 between August 17 and October 19.
travel2.com
Gold Medal offers a week each at the Ramada Plaza Resort & Suites, Orlando, and
TradeWinds’ Guy Harvey Outpost in St Petersburg, from £1,269
between August 23 and October 28, including flights and car hire.
goldmedal.co.uk
FAST FACT Thorpe Park is
unveiling an I’m a Celebrity. . . Get Me Out
of Here! maze on March 27, with bush-tucker trials and special effects
Universal CityWalk
PICTURE: PARC ASTERIX
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