Spring break travel is currently in full swing, and for many, this means an annual pilgrimage to Florida’s beaches and the theme park capital of the world . COVID-19 is still very much a part of our lives, so although more people are traveling this year than in 2020, things may still look a little different.

FF: We just announced the opening date of Jurassic World VelociCoaster on June 10 at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, and we couldn’t be more excited!

This all-new species of roller coaster will be Florida’s fastest and tallest launch coaster, where thrill-seekers will have the opportunity to soar 155 feet in the air and catapult up to 70 mph alongside a ferocious Velociraptor pack. For the fall, the return of the much anticipated and world’s premier Halloween event, Halloween Horror Nights, celebrates its 30th anniversary with 10 haunted houses. This includes a house in honor of the ‘ghost with the most’ and HHN legend, “Beetlejuice.” The event will take place select nights from September 3 through October 31.

Also, we’re very excited that Universal Studios Hollywood will reopen next week, on Friday, April 16. For now, only California residents will be able to visit. But we can’t wait to resume operations, roll out the red carpet and welcome guests back to the theme park with our new and enhanced procedures.

TP: We know work has resumed on the new theme park, Epic Universe - What’s the latest that you’re able to share with us about the park? When can travelers expect full details about the new park such as possible land themes, attractions, a timeline for projected opening date, etc.?

FF: We are super excited that the work has resumed at Universal Orlando Resort’s Epic Universe theme park! The construction of Universal’s Epic Universe will create an entirely new level of theme park entertainment that will feature a new theme park, an entertainment center, hotels, shops, restaurants, and more. Plus, this project will infuse billions of dollars into the Florida economy and will create more than 14,000 permanent jobs in addition to the thousands of jobs that will be created during its development. So, stay tuned because this will be epic!

TP: What advice would you give to travel agents and advisors looking to sell Universal Orlando to clients for 2021 travel?

FF: Universal Orlando is a must-do experience in Orlando, and the best way to experience our destination is to stay here with us. We have three amazing parks, and we suggest a minimum of three days to enjoy our destination. Our hotels are all destination unto themselves and staying in one not only puts your clients in the heart of the action, but also comes with exclusive benefits, including Early Park Admission, complimentary transportation and more.

Additionally, guests staying at one of our three Premier hotels also receive the benefit of UNLIMITED Express Passes for their entire party. The Express pass is a front-line pass for most of our attractions, and no reservation is needed to utilize this benefit.

Finally, we highly encourage travel advisors to become a member of the Universal Partner Community, our desktop and mobile-friendly online resource that centralizes news, exclusive content, and the availability to ask questions and connect with other travel professionals. It’s a terrific tool for all our partners. It’s also the home of our UNIVERSALANDU training and other valuable resources, including sales and marketing materials.