Now Doc Brown can drive either his 20-year-old DeLorean -- or a 2002 Toyota Celica.
The DeLorean played a time machine in the Back to The Future film series that spawned a hugely popular ride at Universal Studios.
But Toyota, a Japanese car maker, recently paid an undisclosed sum to become the official sponsor of the Orlando ride. So in addition to the customized DeLorean on display outside the ride, with its brushed silver paint job and Doc Brown-patented engine capable of running on plutonium, there's also a Celica decorated to look like an identical twin.
While the Toyota gets a high profile outside the ride, the vehicles that carry guests in the motion simulator haven't changed. They're all still DeLoreans.
Toyotas are popping up on the streets all over the Studios, at neighboring Islands of Adventure and on the pedestrian walkways from the parking lots.
Universal has even taken to pushing the cars in the weekly employee newsletter. Universal Orlando workers were offered rebates of $500 each when buying new Toyotas earlier this fall.
Make way Chuck E Cheese's. Universal Orlando, marketing ever harder to local residents to replace lost tourism attendance in the wake of Sept. 11, has started a birthday party program.
For a fee of $549, or less than $35 per person, the birthday boy or girl can bring up to 15 guests -- including the adults. That buys a full day in either Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure and a party with cake and ice cream. Each child also gets a "goody bag" and a balloon.
The price includes free parking for all guests. Options at higher prices include meals and visits from such characters as Spider-Man.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/busi...8,0,7533345.story?coll=orl-business-headlines
The DeLorean played a time machine in the Back to The Future film series that spawned a hugely popular ride at Universal Studios.
But Toyota, a Japanese car maker, recently paid an undisclosed sum to become the official sponsor of the Orlando ride. So in addition to the customized DeLorean on display outside the ride, with its brushed silver paint job and Doc Brown-patented engine capable of running on plutonium, there's also a Celica decorated to look like an identical twin.
While the Toyota gets a high profile outside the ride, the vehicles that carry guests in the motion simulator haven't changed. They're all still DeLoreans.
Toyotas are popping up on the streets all over the Studios, at neighboring Islands of Adventure and on the pedestrian walkways from the parking lots.
Universal has even taken to pushing the cars in the weekly employee newsletter. Universal Orlando workers were offered rebates of $500 each when buying new Toyotas earlier this fall.
Make way Chuck E Cheese's. Universal Orlando, marketing ever harder to local residents to replace lost tourism attendance in the wake of Sept. 11, has started a birthday party program.
For a fee of $549, or less than $35 per person, the birthday boy or girl can bring up to 15 guests -- including the adults. That buys a full day in either Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure and a party with cake and ice cream. Each child also gets a "goody bag" and a balloon.
The price includes free parking for all guests. Options at higher prices include meals and visits from such characters as Spider-Man.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/busi...8,0,7533345.story?coll=orl-business-headlines
