While Disney might be your first thought when someone says
“theme park vacation in Orlando, Florida,” they are by far not the only game in
town! Families can enjoy more movie-themed fun at the Universal Orlando Resort
as well.
What started as one small park that guests could see in one
day has grown into a vacation destination unto itself. Planning a vacation to
the Universal Orlando Resort can feel a bit overwhelming, but here’s what you
need to know before you go…
THEME PARKS
Universal Orlando Resort boasts three unique theme parks –
Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and Volcano Bay as well as
CityWalk, a shopping, entertainment, and dining promenade.
The original theme park, Universal Studios Florida, feels like you’ve walked into a film set
that just so happens to have some rides and attractions! Where else can your
family facing a fire-breathing dragon, take part in a car chase with characters
from Fast and the Furious, defend the earth from an alien attack, and join
forces with Gru and friend to become an actual minion all in one day?
Universal Studios Florida has seven distinct areas that each
have a unique look and feel.
The park is home to the extremely popular Diagon
Alley section of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter where you’ll want to be
sure to experience the Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts attraction.
Universal’s Islands
of Adventure is full of adventures featuring superheroes and favorite
cartoon characters. The younger guests will fall in love with the whimsical
Suessland while older kids and teens will find no shortage of thrill rides such
as the Incredible Hulk Coaster and Doctor Doom’s Fearfall. There is lots of fun
for the entire family on attractions such as Jurassic Park River Adventure and
Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls (yes, you WILL get wet… there is a chance you
might get soaked!).
Probably the most popular area of the park is still
Hogsmeade Village, a part of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Muggles get
their chance to visit Hogwarts on Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. Even
if you don’t want to experience the ride, it’s worth going through the queue to
explore the incredible detail within the castle! There is a viewing area you
can sit in and wait for members of your party who do want to hop on board the
ride.
Guests with a park-to-park ticket can experience the Hogwarts Express train ride between
Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure theme parks. The
enchantment of boarding at Platform 9 ¾, watching the quaint English
countryside roll by outside your window, and the surprises in store make this
quite a memorable train ride!
The newest addition to Universal Orlando Resort is Volcano Bay, a top-notch water park
that makes you feel like you’ve been transported to an island in French
Polynesia! There are rides and attractions for guests of all ages, or if you
prefer, you can find yourself a beach chair and relax in the sun (or the
shade!).
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| photo ©Universal |
A unique addition to Volcano Bay is the fact that each guest
is given a Tapu Tapu band when they enter the park. This free service allows
you to hold a virtual space in line for attractions and lets you spend your
time exploring the park rather than waiting in line. The bands will also
activate interactive surprises around the park, open rental lockers, and allows
you to leave your wallet behind by enabling cash-free payments to your account.
Be sure to experience the Krakatau Water Coaster inside the
park’s iconic volcano for a thrill you won’t soon forget!
RESORT HOTELS
Universal Orlando Resort features six onsite resorts
operated by Loews Hotels, with two additional resorts opening in mid-2019. The
resorts are categorized into Value
Hotels (Universal's Endless Summer Resort – Surfside Inn and Suites, and
Universal's Endless Summer Resort – Dockside Inn and Suites, both of which open
in June 2019), Prime Value Hotels
(Universal's Aventura Hotel, and Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort), Preferred Hotel (Loews Sapphire Falls
Resort), and Premier Hotels (Loews
Royal Pacific Resort, Hard Rock Hotel, and Loews Portofino Bay Hotel).
Guests at all of Universal Orlando Resort’s onsite hotels
can access early entry into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Each morning
either Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade Village will allow resort guests to enter one
hour before the general public. This onsite hotel benefit will not only save
you a significant amount of time waiting in line for the park’s most popular
attractions but will also give you the chance to explore the incredible detail
in these areas with limited crowds.
Guests of Universal’s Premier Hotels (Loews Royal Pacific
Resort, Hard Rock Hotel, and Loews Portofino Bay Hotel) also receive unlimited
front-of-line access to most of the rides and attractions in the parks. Universal
Express Unlimited passes are included in the price of your resort stay. This
benefit is invaluable, especially during peak attendance times such as early
summer and the holiday season. During the busiest travel times, Universal
Express Unlimited passes can cost up to $150 per person so a family of 4 will
save up to $600 per day!
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| photo ©Loews Hotels |
All of the onsite resorts are beautifully themed and
decorated and are close to all the action of CityWalk and the theme parks.
Complimentary transportation is available to all onsite resort guests.
Wondering if a Universal Orlando Resort vacation might be
right for your family? Planning the perfect experience begins with scheduling
your vacation consultation call. Click here to request a time for us to meet. We'll
discuss the details and what you are looking for in your dream vacation. I'll
give you my suggestions and explain how we can best work together to plan the
vacation of your dreams. Plus we'll show you how to get a picture like this.
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