Construction on Universal Studios in Orlando began in 1989, and the park opened to the public on June 7, 1990. The park was a product of the corporate marriage between NBC Universal and the Blackstone Group. Islands of Adventure, an additional feature of the theme park, was not open until 1999.
Some of the main attractions of the park are The Simpsons Ride, a motion base simulator ride, Shrek 4-D, an interactive show that features a 3-D film, Revenge of the Mummy, an indoor rollercoaster, and Men In Black: Alien Attack!, an interactive thrill ride. The resort also features numerous restaurants, including Beverly Hills Boulangerie and Universal Studios Classic Monsters' Cafe, and souvenir shops.
Universal Studios has rides based on the films and TV shows produced by the company. Unlike its West Coast counterpart, the Universal Studios in Orlando was built from scratch, whereas the Hollywood location was built off of the studio that already existed.
The park has expanded greatly since its inception in 1990. Divided by section, the resort is almost labyrinthine in scope. Production Central is the main entrance, while the Hollywood section is a recreation of the city's early landmarks such as Schwabb's Drugstore, Mel's Drive-in. The New York section includes sets from various parts and time frames of the city, and the San Francisco/Amity section contains the coastal feel of a Bay Area town and includes attractions such as the Fear Factor Live show and Beetle Juice's Rock and Roll Graveyard Revue. The World Expo section is the site of the Simpsons Ride and Men in Black: Alien Attack!, the Woody Woodpecker KidZone is a section devoted specifically to younger children, and finally, there is the Lagoon, the lake that is located in the center of the resort.
After the Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Studios Orlando is considered the largest in the city of Orlando. Statistically, it is the 11th most visited theme park in the world and the fifth most visited in the United States.