The Universal Orlando Resort is extraordinary! There is so much to do and see and I was so happy to partner up with Universal Orlando to talk about why this is the perfect destination for spring break! I'm going to go over all of the parks with tips, tricks and things we discovered while visiting the resort so let's get started.
First up, let's talk about the overall area of the Universal Orlando Resort. There are three parks: Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, and a water park called Volcano Bay. Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure are located within walking distance from one another and Volcano Bay is just a short bus ride away. You actually park in the same garage for all three parks. There are also multiple hotels very close to all the parks as well! Universal’s Aventura Hotel, Loews Sapphire Falls Resort, Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort, Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Loews Royal Pacific Resort and the Hard Rock Hotel. It's a huge property with lots to do!
Universal Studios:
This is the main attraction that is home to all of the classic, nostalgic things. You start off walking through Production Central and taper off in a circle from there. There are eight lands total, all themed and charming!
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Diagon Alley:
This is one of my favorite areas in the park. It is SO amazingly done! I think what I loved most is the entrance, it's kinda hidden, just like the movies! You have know your surroundings and look passed the walls. This is where wizards shop for school supplies and open bank accounts at Gringotts which is actually an exhilarating ride! In the center of Diagon Alley is the dragon that sits above the bank and if you catch him just at the right time, he blows fire over you! It's not on a schedule, so make sure you listen closely for the growls!
There's all sorts of shops and walkways within Diagon Alley, so make sure you don't miss these hidden gems as you go through. Bring your wand as well because there are so many interactive windows where you make the magic happen with a simple 'swish and flick'! And of course, Butterbeer, which is always a must in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!
Up next, Springfield:
I'm a huge fan of The Simpsons so this was definitely one of my favorite areas in the park! It's a little similar to the Springfield in Universal Studios Hollywood but has other things to offer. They have The Simpsons Ride, of course, but they also have another ride featuring Kang and Kodos! And can't forget the infamous pink doughnut available at Lard Lads!
Other parts of Universal Stuios include World Expo, Woody Woodpeckers KidZone, New York and San Francisco.
I really enjoyed the streets of New York, San Francisco and Hollywood Boulevard. For someone who has never been to New York, I definitely got the New York vibe!
The World Expo is where you can find the Men in Black ride, which was awesome! And Fear Factor live.
Woody Woodpeckers Kidzone is where you can find fun things for the younger crowd and the beloved E.T. ride. This ride is so nostalgic for me, they used to have it in Hollywood but it was replaced so I'm happy I can still visit it in Orlando!
There are so many themed restaurants in both parks! One I loved most was the Monsters Cafe in Universal Studios. It's full of all the classic monsters from the 1930's, 40's, and 50's. There are replicas of all the creatures and they each have their own seating area in the restaurant!
Now let's go over Islands of Adventure!
This park is absolutely beautiful. It's very mystic and adventurous. The port of entry is so detailed and elegant. It offers shopping and a Starbucks before you head into the park. All of the lands wrap around a lake that sits in the center, no matter which way you go, you won't miss anything!
Marvel Super Hero Island:
Rob is a huge Marvel fan so he was especially excited to check this out and it did not disappoint! This area was so cool! It was full of color, comic book style Marvel characters and even the Marvel villains roaming around!
The two biggest rides in Super Hero Island are 'The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman' and 'The Incredible Hulk Coaster'. The Hulk was one of the most intense roller coasters I have ever been on and Spiderman is a 3D track ride which was really exciting!
Toon Lagoon is up next! A super fun place for all the classic comic loving folks!
Jurassic Park:
If you've been following along on my adventures for a while, you know I'm a huge Jurassic Park fan and I waited till the the end to visit this part! I actually made Rob go all the way around so we could walk under the arch (which is on the Harry Potter side of the park)
They have dinosaur props all throughout! We spent a good couple hours in Jurassic park taking in all the details.
Jurassic Park is home to River Adventure, an intense water ride and a meet n' greet with Blue! We had a blast meeting Blue, she is terrifying and loud haha!
The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter: Hogsmeade
This is the second Harry Potter park housing the enchanting Hogwarts Castle. You can find shops like Olivanders, Honey Dukes and the owl barn and you can fly with Hermione, Harry and Ron in Harry Potter and The Forbidden Journey which takes place inside Hogwarts! And be on the lookout for a new adventure coming soon; Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, which is set to open June 13, 2019 so make sure you head that way this summer! You can also bring your wand to this park for interactions as well!
And last but not least: Seuss Landing. A very whimsical area where all the Seuss characters are! You can even meet Cat in the Hat himself!
Volcano Bay:
This is Universal's water park and it is entirely too much fun! There's a huge volcano in the center with a beach-type pool and you can even get set up on sand! The whole vibe of the park is a tropical paradise. We only got to spend a few hours here but could easily spend an entire day. It's such a big space with more than 20 water rides including a lazy river and rapids! I highly recommend Volcano Bay when you're visiting, it's a great place to escape from the spring break park crowds!
Tips and tricks:
We discovered lots of tricks that helped make our trip go smooth. I actually did research before we left because I like to know what to expect. I watched YouTube videos and blogs.
Universal Studios Florida has express pass and virtual lines. Express pass is a separate ticket to skip the line which is well worth it. When most rides were about an hour or longer wait time, the express line was almost always a walk-on. Virtual lines come with admission and you basically check times for a ride then it will tell you to come back at a certain time. Be sure to check what rides have express and which lines have virtual before your trip.
Try to go when the park opens. It's less crowded and you can have space to enjoy things and take pics. We were able to snag a lot of photos with hardly anyone in them!
And lastly, invest in a souvenir cup. They actually come with the purchase of a drink anyway so it's already a free souvenir! You get discounted refills on soda, beer and alcohol and you can use it anywhere these cups are offered in both parks. Volcano Bay has one as well!
Thanks for hanging in there till the end, friends! Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the Universal Orlando Resort. We had two full days for all three parks and I could definitely go back for more! They offer so much for all ages and it was honestly just so much fun! I think spring break is a great time to enjoy what the resort has to offer. You're close to everything, the crowds weren't bad and you can take a break from walking to enjoy a giant water park! Next time we'll look into staying on property because I've heard that experience is just as amazing! Let me know what your favorite part is when you visit!
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