Many who travel to Orlando, Florida have never experienced Universal Orlando. But I am here to tell you that Universal Orlando Resort should not be overlooked! The parks and hotels offer tons of fun and entertainment for all ages.
I know that for first-time visitors, going to Universal Orlando can feel a little overwhelming. That is why I am here to help! I've compiled everything you need to help make your first visit to Universal Orlando one of your best vacations !
Everything You Need to Know About Universal Orlando Resort
1. Three theme parks, all kinds of amazing.
Universal Orlando consists of three theme parks which are: Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and Volcano Bay.
Universal Studios is home to the classic replicas of movie sets, Diagon Alley, The Mummy Returns, Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon, Fast & Furious – Supercharged, Hogwarts Express and many other thrilling attractions.
Islands of Adventure is where you will find Hogsmeade, Hogwarts, Jurassic Park, Seuss Landing, The Hulk and so much more to keep the entertainment going all day long.
Volcano Bay is a great way to cool down and spend a day in the water. You can relax in Kopiko Wai Winding River or splash down the most exhilarating water slides around.
2. Single Park or Park-to-Park – which ticket is for me?
If you want to ride Hogwarts Express, then the answer is simple. You need
a park-to-park ticket to ride this train. Hogwarts Express carries passengers between Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. Your park ticket will be checked upon entering King’s Cross Station (Universal Studios) or Hogsmeade Station (Islands of Adventure).
3. On-Site Hotels vs. Off-Site Hotels: How Do I Decide?
Universal Orlando Resort has a hotel for every style and budget. I always recommend staying onsite because of the valuable benefits they provide for park visitors. This includes complimentary transportation to the parks, free delivery of park purchases to your hotel, and Early Park Admission to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
The hotels are broken down into 4 categories listed below:
Value
These are budget-friendly properties a bit further away from Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios, Volcano Bay and City Walk. The hotels in this category are:
Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Dockside Inn & Suites
Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Surfside Inn & Suites
Don't let the distance put you off from these hotels. Both offer free shuttle buses to City Walk and Volcano Bay that run throughout the day.
Prime Value
Hotels in this category have some additional onsite amenities that the above resorts do not, like more dining options. The pool areas have additional features like splash zones, slides, or lazy rivers. They even have beautiful fire pits scattered throughout the outdoor areas for you to relax and roast marshmallows. They hotels in this category are:
Universal’s Aventura Hotel
Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort
In addition to offering complimentary shuttle service to City Walk, Universal Studios, and Islands of Adventure, these resorts have their own private entrance to Volcano Bay, allowing guests direct access to the water park.
Preferred
This level of property steps up the amenities offered. This includes catering and conference facilities and concierge service. There is only one property in this category:
Loews Sapphire Falls Resort
Because it is located a bit closer to the parks, complimentary water taxi service is an available option for transportation to the parks. Shuttle buses are also available.
Premier
As the top hotel category, these resorts have bigger rooms, more luxurious amenities, and are at a closer proximity to the parks. The hotels in this category are:
Hard Rock Hotel
Loews Portofino Bay Hotel
Loews Royal Pacific Resort
The best benefit of the Premier resorts is the complimentary Universal Unlimited Express Pass for all guests in your room and is valid for the length of your stay. If you are considering Express Passes for your Universal Orlando visit, you may actually save money by staying at a Premier resort. Contact me to do a price comparison for you.
4. Universal Express Pass vs. Universal Unlimited Express
Universal Express Pass is a ticket add-on that allows you to bypass the regular (stand-by) lines at many rides throughout Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios. The Express Pass lines have shorter wait times so you can visit more attraction during your vacation.
Universal Express is good once per ride per day. This is perfect if you only plan to go on that ride one time. The Universal Unlimited Express is good multiple times on the same attraction each day. With the unlimited ticket, you could use the Express Pass line for the same ride over and over again if you wanted to.
As mentioned above, guests staying at one of the Universal Premier hotels will receive the Universal Unlimited Express Pass as a complimentary add-on (approximately $129 per person value) as part of their room package. It is active from the time you check-in until the park closes on the day you check-out. Otherwise, a Universal Express Pass will need to be purchased per person per day.
Still unsure on which option is better for your group? Contact me for help and advice on how to decide.
5. More Ticket Add-On Options
In addition to the Express Pass mentioned above, there are many other add-ons to make your Universal Orlando vacation even more amazing. There’s the Marvel Character Dinner, seasonal after hours events, photo packages, and more.
VIP experiences are also available so you can get the red carpet treatment. You'll be led through the most popular rides and attractions, and enjoy special benefits before, during and after your tour.
Be sure to talk to me for details about any of these options when you are ready to plan your Universal Vacation.
6. City Walk
From dining, to shopping, to night-life, City Walk is the epicenter of awesome! Located at the front entrances of Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios, you'll find the likes of Hard Rock Café, Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar, and Toothsome Chocolate Emporium. I highly recommend stopping at VooDoo’s Donuts to grab late-night snacks or breakfast for the next morning.
City Walk is a free to enter and a great place to visit if you aren't heading to one of the theme parks. It is perfect for browsing stores, people watching, and tons of photo opportunities.
7. My kids are small. Will there be enough for us to do?
Absolutely! Universal Orlando has the reputation of being a theme park for older kids and adults, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
While many of the rides have height restrictions there is still plenty to do for smaller kids. There is Pteranodon Flyers in Jurassic Park, Seuss Landing, Woody Woodpecker’s Kids Zone, all types of character interactions, parades and much more.
There is even a child swap service at many of the rides. This allows younger guests to skip a ride (either because they are not tall enough or they do not want to go) and gives everyone else in the party an opportunity to hop on the attraction without having to go through the queue all over again. Feel free to ask me for more details about this service.
8. What should I bring into the park?
I recommend not getting bogged down by taking a bunch of items in the park. Most rides do not allow you to bring on bags of any size. These rides will have complimentary lockers available, however, they are very small and a backpack won't fit in them. You will need your park ticket to lock and open the lockers.
If you have a backpack, or something else that doesn't fit in the complimentary locker, you can rent a slightly larger locker for the duration of the ride for a few dollars. Be sure to have a credit card with you in addition to your park ticket to rent these.
However, as a solo mom of 3, I understand that sometimes bringing a bunch of stuff is just unavoidable. So when traveling with kids, I always recommend at least bringing:
Snacks
Reusable water bottles
Sunscreen
Rain ponchos
Hand wipes
There are lockers available throughout the park to rent for longer durations to stash your larger items if needed.
Keep in mind all bags will be searched by security before entering the parks.
9. I only need tickets and not accommodations. Why should I use a travel planner?
Tickets purchased through a travel agent guarantee the one-hour early access to the parks, just like on-site hotel guests get. You can't get this by purchasing through the Universal consumer site yourself.
Is there anything else you want to know about Universal Orlando? I am here to help! Simply contact me with any questions, or click here to request a complimentary vacation consultation.
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