No. 1 Selling Christmas Artist Mannheim Steamroller to Kick-Off Universal Orlando Resort's Month-Long Holiday Celebration

Holiday Cheer You Can Only Hear Here! Guests Can Enjoy Grinchmas, Macy's Holiday Parade December 6 Through January 1

Orlando, Fla. (PRWEB) November 22, 2008 -- Christmas music mega-sensation Mannheim Steamroller will perform two live concerts at Universal Orlando Resort on Saturday, December 6 to kick-off the resort's annual holiday celebration (http://www.universalorlando.com/holidays/index.html#top). The Grammy Award-winning, platinum-selling group will ring in the start of the holiday season live from Universal Studios when they perform songs they created specifically for the resort's original holiday stage show "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," as well as brand-new music from their newly released album Christmasville.

Mannheim Steamroller (http://www.universalorlando.com/holidays/mannheim_steamroller.html#top) founder Chip Davis will make his only scheduled appearance of the holiday season during the Universal Studios concerts. The concerts will take place at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. in the New York area and are included in park admission to Universal Studios Florida. Formed more than 20 years ago, Mannheim Steamroller has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide.

"We are extremely excited to partner with Universal Orlando Resort for their holiday celebration," said Chip Davis, founder of Mannheim Steamroller. "We are looking forward to performing some of our classic hits, as well as new material, for park guests."

Mannheim Steamroller's performances are just the start of the month-long holiday festivities (http://www.universalorlando.com/holidays/index.html#top) at Universal Orlando. Beginning December 6 and running through January 1, the resort's celebration will include the specially themed Grinchmas show and Macy's Holiday Parade.

At Islands of Advenure, the popular Dr. Seuss book "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" is brought to life in Grinchmas (http://www.universalorlando.com/holidays/grinchmas.html#top), a live stage show featuring an original musical score by Mannheim Steamroller. During the show, six songs are performed by a live cast, including The Grinch and The Whos from Whoville. As a part of the Grinchmas celebration, guests will also have the opportunity to meet The Grinch.

Next door at Universal Studios, the world-renowned balloons and floats from Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade return. Guests can experience the excitement of the New York City tradition as the Macy's Holiday Parade (http://www.universalorlando.com/holidays/macys.html#top) cruises through the streets of the park. In addition to the parade, Universal Studios guests can enjoy performances by marching bands from across the country, a nightly Christmas tree lighting, as well as specially themed holiday shows including The Blues Brothers, Woody Woodpecker's Kidzone and Barney.

"With the heart-warming story of Grinchmas and the excitement of the Macy's Holiday Parade, we have brought together two of the most beloved and compelling holiday experiences in our culture," said Jim Timon, senior vice president of entertainment for Universal Orlando Resort. "We have created a month-long holiday event that every family will love."

The celebration continues at Universal Orlando's three on-site hotels (http://www.universalorlando.com/holidays/hotels.html#top) - Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel and Loews Royal Pacific Resort - all of which will glisten with holiday decorations. Hotel guests will be immersed in the spirit of the season with carolers, tree-lighting ceremonies, holiday movie presentations and special holiday menus.

All holiday entertainment - including the Mannheim Steamroller concert, is included as part of admission to Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure. Florida residents can take advantage of these special offers:

'Tis the Season for Florida Resident Holiday Offers

•    Florida residents can save more than $40 this holiday season when they purchase a 2-Day/2-Park theme park ticket online. With this offer, guests can enjoy both Universal Studios Florida and Universal's Islands of Adventure theme parks for less than $38 a day.

•    Florida residents can take advantage of unprecedented savings on a 2-Park Preferred Annual Pass. Between November 10 and January 4, Florida residents can receive $40 off of a 2-Park Preferred Annual Pass (regularly priced at $199.99) with the purchase of any 20 oz bottle of Coca-Cola Zero.

•    From November 30 through December 18, guests can take advantage of daily rates as low as $134 at Loews Royal Pacific Resort, $139 at Hard Rock Hotel and $164 per day at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel. Additionally, if guests stay three or more nights at any of the hotels, they'll receive $25 Universal Orlando dollars for use throughout the resort plus a $150 Universal Orlando Resort Savings Guide.

And - as an added bonus - guests staying at an on-site hotel at Universal Orlando receive free Universal Express ride access, which lets them bypass regular ride and attraction lines simply by showing their valid hotel room key card.

For more information on Universal Orlando's holiday celebration and offers, guests can visit www.UniversalOrlando.com/Holidays.

About Universal Orlando Resort

Universal Orlando Resort has created some of the world's most innovative theme park attractions based on pop culture's most compelling films and stories. Guests experience two exciting theme parks - Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure as well as Universal CityWalk, a 30-acre restaurant, shopping and nighttime entertainment complex; and three magnificently themed on-site Loews hotels - the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel and the Loews Royal Pacific Resort. Flagship experiences featured in the theme parks include "The Simpsons Ride," "Revenge of the Mummy - The Ride," "The Incredible Hulk Coaster" and "The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man." More information is available at www.UniversalOrlando.com.

IMAGES:             

Available at http://media.universalorlando.com

MEDIA CONTACT:        

Universal Orlando, Public Relations

(407) 363-8220 - http://media.universalorlando.com

###