Not to long ago, the words Orlando and Disney World were interchangeable, when you described taking a family vacation to Orlando Florida. If you mentioned the Universal theme parks in Orlando, it was only as an after-thought; a quick day trip if you had the time - but not anymore. Led by the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Diagon Alley attractions, along with a growing number of other state of the art attractions; the two theme parks at Universal Orlando, Universal Studios Florida and Universal's Islands of Adventure, have become vacation destinations themselves. Over the past 4 years, each park has seen attendance grow from around 5 million, to over 8 million each. Attendance in 2014 in each park is expected to grow to near 9 million in 2014. The result of this growth in popularity has been disappointed park visitors, who are not expecting to see the long lines at the popular attractions at the parks, with lines at the popular Harry Potter attractions, Forbidden Journey and Escape from Gringotts, having common multi-hours line waits soon after the parks open to the general public.
Fortunately, Universal Orlando has developed several programs for park visitors to to avoid the long lines. For visitors staying off site, Universal offers the Universal Express Pass. For a fee above the cost of park tickets, families can go to the front of any line of most major attractions at either park, except for the Harry Potter attractions. With a variety of options available, including an unlimited use option, you can design your Express Pass to meet you needs. Unfortunately, in addition to not being able to use to passes on the Harry Potter attractions, the cost of going to the front of the line can be steep. Prices start at $29.99 per pass and go up from their, and are in addition to the price of admission. For guests who hate waiting in long lines, the price may be worth it. But for most people that is an expensive option, and does not include the main Harry Potter attractions at the Wizarding Worlds, which is a main reason many guests want to visit Universal Orlando for. The great thing is Universal Orlando offers an option, that more park guests are taking advantage of, where they can get FREE Express Passes for the length of their park attendance, and and early admission to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
For guests staying on site at 3 of the 4 hotels and resorts at Universal Orlando, get free unlimited Express Passes for their stay. Anyone staying at the Loews Royal Pacific Resort, Hard Rock Hotel, or the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, get an unlimited Express Pass which would cost an off site guest nearly $90 per day. In addition to the passes, staying at any of these resorts allows you into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, 1 hour before the park opens to regular park guests; and it allows you priority dining reservations at most of the excellent restaurants at the resort. Each of the 3 deluxe, 4 star resorts offers great accommodations and attractions themselves, and are a great place to stay for your Orlando visit even without the added benefits. The other hotel on site, is Cabana Bay Beach, a recently opened moderate priced resort. While staying at Cabana Bay Beach Resort, you will not be eligible for the free Express Pass or dining priority. You will have early entry privileges at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter attractions, and this resorts offers something special that every growing family wishes they have on a vacation; space. Cabana Bay Resort is the only resort on site at Universal Orlando to offer large Family Suites with their own kitchenettes, so families can spread out and prepare some of their meals if they like.
For many guests, the chance to see and do the Harry Potter attractions is their only initial reason for going to Universal. But once they see and experience some of the other new state of the art attractions like Transformers: The Ride 3D, Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, or Revenge of the Mummy; the they want to try everything over and over. That is the main benefit of staying on staying on site and using the free Express Passes. Your family gets to do the Wizarding World and the other great attractions, instead of waiting and waiting. Plus, add in all the other great features that Universal Orlando resort has to offer on site guests, a world class water park at Wet'nWild, with great nighttime dining and entertainment at Universal City Walk.
Add it all together, great parks, great hotels, world class food, and great benefits; Universal Orlando has become a vacation destination that is making more and more families forget that Orlando also has that place with the mouse.
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