Location: Florida
Table of Contents
Overview: Let Yourself Woah
Universal Orlando Resort is a multi-themed park and resort complex featuring two theme parks, a water park, a night-time commercial district, and eight hotels. The second-largest resort complex in Florida, the Universal Orlando Resort spans over 500 acres and a multitude of attractions centered on the film and entertainment industries, rivaling the nearby Disney Hollywood Studios theme park. Located in Orlando, Florida, the Universal Orlando Resort is open year-round with special celebrations on major holidays.
The two theme parks are composed on sixteen distinct lands coving a vast array of NBCUniversal’s intellectual property library centered around film and entertainment franchises from Dreamworks, Illumination, and Warner Brothers. The two parks range in attractions from visiting the inside of Hogwarts Castle from the Harry Potter franchise to a live Fear Factor show to a thrill ride from the Mummy franchise. Universal Orlando Resort contains some of the most visited theme parks in the world, with Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure ranked 11th and 12th respectively in total attendance worldwide. With a combined attendance of over 21 million in 2019, Universal Orlando Resort offers a wide selection of entertainment and lodging choices for people of all ages.
A History of Universal Studios Orlando
The Universal Orlando Resort opened in 1990 as a direct competitor to the behemoth Walt Disney World development. Focused on renowned entertainment, movies, and television, the Universal Orlando Resort aimed to rival Disney’s Hollywood Studios and capitalize on the burgeoning resort and theme park expansion in sunny central Florida. In Central Florida, Universal aimed to produce a hybrid movie and television production area with a tourism-focused “behind the scenes” experience. With a lack of public interest in this approach, Universal shifted the purpose to include staged rides and attractions in the park. Opened as one theme park, Universal Studios Florida, the development soon expanded to include a second park, Islands of Adventure, in 1999 along with cojoining hotels and other amenities like Universal CityWalk, the nightlife district, to make Universal Orlando Resort into a multi-day experience.
Following the success of this immersive experience, Universal acquired the nearby Wet n’ Wild Orlando, now Universal’s Volcano Bay, water park and developed a second on-site hotel, the Hard Rock Hotel. Over subsequent years, new lodging options of varying affordability were constructed along with changing attractions, eateries, and rides and the addition of a Harry Potter-themed district in each of the parks. The establishment of lands with evolving consumer tastes has allowed Universal Orlando Resort to compete with its neighbor, Walt Disney World, as the premier central Floridian theme park escape.
In the future, there are plans to construct a third Universal park called Universal’s Epic Universe, a couple of miles south of the main hub. Construction and planning stalled due to the Covid-19 Pandemic; however, construction resumed in March 2021. While exact details of Epic Universe are not yet confirmed, there are rumors and evidence of a proposed Nintendo land, a third Harry Potter land, and unknown lands tied to Dreamworks and Illumination intellectual properties.
The Destination: Universal Studios Orlando Resort
The Universal Orlando Resort is an agglomeration of two theme parks, a water park, an entertainment district, and numerous hotels. This guide with take you through each of these components including a description, interesting finds, dining, entertainment, and transportation within the resort.
Universal Studios Florida
The initial theme park of Universal Orlando Resort, Universal Studios Florida, hosts a plethora of rides, live performances, and entertainment facilities. With nearly 11 million visitors in 2019, it is the 11th most visited theme park in the world and 6th in North America. Universal Studios Florida consists of eight themed regions encircling the central lagoon. These eight regions are clockwise around the lagoon - Production Central, New York, San Francisco, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley, World Expo, Springfield, Woody Woodpecker’s Kidzone, and Hollywood.
The Production Central area is located just to the left of the entrance to the park and hosts a selection of shopping and dining facilities. Production Central sets the stage for the cinematic extravagance of the park and is features design focusing “the big screen” with giant soundstages and interactive movie and immersive ride experiences. Attractions in this area include Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, Shrek 4-D, Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, and Transformers: The Ride 3D. Production Central also offers Universal Music Plaza, a large stage for festivals and shows. Dining opportunities in Production Central include the full-service restaurant Universal Studios’s Classic Monsters Cafe and the quick-service restaurant Bone Chillin.
The New York area is just past Production Central and focuses on immersive experiences that will make you think you are in the “Big Apple.” New York offers guests entertainment choices from classics like The Blues Brothers Show and a Marilyn Monroe show to modern a capella Sing It! And percussion shows Beat Builders. New York is also dotted with restaurant options of which include the full-service Irish-themed Finnegan’s Bar & Grill as well as a plethora of quick-service stations including Louie’s Italian Restaurant, Guido’s Gelato, as well as famous American chains such as Starbucks and Auntie Anne’s. Although New York focuses on a variety of dining and entertainment options, there are two attractions including the coaster ride Revenge of the Mummy and a 3-D movie experience Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon.
The San Francisco area follows the lagoon past New York and follows the New York area in its attention to dining options. The singular attraction in this area is the auto show Fast & Furious - Supercharged with memorabilia from the Fast & Furious Franchise. As for dining, San Francisco offers a full-service restaurant called Lombard’s Seafood Grille. Quick service options range from Richter’s Burger Co. to San Francisco Pastry Company.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Diagon Alley area offers the most of any area in the Universal Studios Florida park. Following the success of Harry Potter’s Hogwarts and Hogsmeade in the Island of Adventure Park, Universal created an addition to the land focusing on the Harry Potter world’s shopping and entertainment area of Diagon Alley. On the outside of the area facing the large lagoon is the London Waterfront. This area showcases London landmarks such as King’s Cross Station that holds the Hogwarts Express, an inter-park transportation train, and entertainment that links the London Waterfront to the Island’s of Adventure if you have an inter-park ticket. The London Waterfront also offers some Harry Potter easter eggs like 12 Grimmauld Place where you can spot the house-elf Kreature in the window and the famous purple Knight Bus. A short walk to Leister Square will transport visitors from London to Diagon Alley. As guests cross into the wizarding world, the long alleyway of Diagon Alley appears with shopping and dining opportunities galore. Apart from the Hogwarts Express, the only attraction in this section of the theme park is Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, a 3-D thrill ride. Dining opportunities in this area are focused on quick-service dining with The Leaky Cauldron, an English tavern with Butter Beer and Pumpkin Juice among its highlights, as well as The Hopping Pot, which serves beer and other Wizarding World drinks. Apart from the immaculate immersion into the Harry Potter World, Diagon Alley also hosts live renditions of Tales of Beedle the Bard and performances by Celestina Warbeck. Before departing this area of Universal Studios Florida, guests should check out the innumerable shopping opportunities of Wizarding World memorabilia from Olivander’s Wand Shop. This shop is where guests can choose a wand to Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes for unusual snacks and tricks to Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions for clothing needs.
The World Expo area offers guests a blast back to the past to the 1964 Worlds Fair in Queens, New York. Although this area is geographically smaller than many other areas in the park, it manages to fit in the Men in Black: Alien Attack ride, a laser-shooting ride. This area also hosts a Cocacola Refresh stop for a quick refreshment in the air conditioning.
The Springfield: Home of The Simpsons area is another fully immense guest experience that transports guests to the land of the animated series, The Simpsons. This area features two attractions - The Kang & Kudos’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl, an ariel carousel, and The Simpsons Ride, a virtual-reality roller coaster ride. For entertainment, The Simpsons area provides guests the opportunity for meeting the characters of the show as well as Midway Games, an arcade area. Dining options are on Fast Food Boulevard. Grab a bite to eat in this area at Moe’s Tavern, where guests can purchase the famous Duffy Beer (21+) or a nonalcoholic Flaming Moe. Lard Lad Doughnuts is perfect for those with a sweet tooth.
Moving around the lagoon closer to the entrance, the Woody Woodpecker’s Kidzone is the ultimate stop for guests with young kids. With four attractions, this area is full of fun opportunities for little ones. The E.T. Adventure ride takes visitors on a slow-moving dark ride through the adventures of E.T. A small rollercoaster, Woody Woodpeckers’ Nuthouse Coaster, is a perfect start for young ones to experience the thrill of a roller coaster. In addition to these rides, there is a playground and water splash area for recreation. Entertainment in this section includes various character meet and greets and photo opportunities. There is also a pizza station in the Woody Woodpecker’s Kidzone if you need a bit to eat in between rides down the 200-foot waterslide.
The final area of the Universal Studios Florida park is the Hollywood Area which takes guests through the Entertainment capital. The Bourne Stuntacular, a Jason Bourne-themed stunt show, is the primary attraction in this area. Other entertainment options in Hollywood range from Univeral Orlando’s Horror Make-up Show and Character Party Zone. For dining, Hollywood offers some great quick-service options including TODAY Cafe, best for sandwiches and salads. Mel’s Drive-In is a 50’s themed restaurant with all your diner favorites like milkshakes, burgers, and fries. Shwab’s Pharmacy is another location where guests can get ice cream and a soda from this soda shop. Shopping in Hollywood allows guests to immerse into the Hello Kitty world or check out Williams Of Hollywood for vintage souvenirs.
Universal’s Islands of Adventures
The Islands of Adventure park is the second park created in the Universal Studios Orlando Resort opening in 1999. The park is one of the most highly visited theme parks domestically in the United States and globally. It is geographically similar to Universal Studios Florida in that the themed lands circumnavigate a central lagoon. Islands of Adventure consists of seven themed lands in clockwise order around the lagoon - Marvel Super Hero Island, Toon Lagoon, Skull Island: Reign of Kong, Jurassic Park, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade, The Lost Continent, and Seuss Landing. Across the park are 17 attractions mixed with a plethora of shopping, dining, and entertainment opportunities enclosed in seven thematic lands transporting guests across space and time.
The Port of Entry is the first stop when entering the park from the main gate and contains many guest services. The iconic landmark of the park, the Pharos Lighthouse, is located in this area. Themed as a prosperous settlement, Port of Entry provides a base for guests before exploring the various lands head with multiple choices of dining and shopping. A full-service restaurant, Confisco Grille and Backwater Bar features a variety of international cuisine from pork belly to chicken curry. Croissant Moon Bakery and Starbucks are great options for a quick bite before exploring the rest of the park. Shopping options include a Christmas store, gift shops, and a candy store.
Going clockwise around the large lagoon, Marvel Super Hero Island allows guests to live out their superhero dreams by riding along with the Hulk, Spiderman, and other Marvel Comics favorites. Adventuring around the Marvel island, comic-book architecture pops out as guests explore the four attractions, character entertainment, and American dining options. The Incredible Hulk Coaster is a thrill ride to remember with the speed of over 60 miles an hour. Another thrilling adventure through Marvel Super Hero Island is Doctor Doom’s Fearfall, a 185-foot tall stomach-churning space shot traveling nearly 40 miles per hour. The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man is a 3-D scoop vehicle ride where guests swing on webs across New York City with Spiderman. For a more tame Marvel experience, Storm Force Acelatron is a tea-cup style ride with spins and twists. Dining in Marvel Super Hero Island consists of three quick-service stations like Captain America Diner, Cafe 4, and Auntie Anne’s Pretzels. Captain America Diner offers American food like fries, burgers, and chicken tenders. Cafe 4 is an Italian restaurant. As the home of the Fantastic Four, Cafe 4 features character buffet dinners on select nights.
Toons Lagoon is accessible by continuing clockwise around the lagoon from Marvel Super Hero Island. Toons Lagoon themed on newspaper comics such as Popeye, offers guests water ride highlights. Be warned if you ride any of the attractions in this area, you will get wet. A similar comedic architecture and atmosphere continue in Toons Lagoon that provides an elegant and immersive shift from Marvel Super Hero Island. Popeye & Pluto’s Blige-Rat Barges is a water rafting attraction where 12 guests board a circular innertube and raft down Popeye’s river rapids. Me Ship, the Olive is a water play area perfect for kids and adults alike. Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls is a log flume attraction that takes guests on a floating log tour and drops 75-feet down the Ripsaw falls. For dining at Toon Lagoon, check out the four quick-service food stations- Comic Strip Cafe, Blondie’s, Wimpy’s, and Cathy’s Ice Cream. These four dining options provide a diverse menu set for post-water adventures.
Moving clockwise around the central lagoon, Skull Island is a mini-land based on the King Kong franchise. This area has a singular attraction, Skull Island: Reign of Kong, a trackless dark ride that takes guests on a trip to Skull Island where King Kong makes an appearance. There are no shopping or dining facilities in this area. The tropical and dark atmosphere merge perfectly with the next island, Jurassic Park
The Jurrasic Park area allows guests to travel back in time to the dinosaur age and is filled with every adventurer’s prehistoric fantasies. There are five primary attractions in Jurassic Park - three rides and two entertainment opportunities. Camp Jurassic is a jungle-themed children’s playground where kids can cross wooden walkways, climb rope ladders, and shoot water cannons. Travel down a prehistoric river ride and a final steep drop down a waterfall with Jurassic Park River Adventure. Pteranodon Flyers is an attraction limited to those between a height of 36 and 56 inches tall or an accompanying adult. This ride features a gondola ride in the sky through the jungle and includes views of the park. The newest addition to Jurassic Park, VelociCoaster, is a launched roller coaster that twists, turns, and dives to reach a maximum speed of 70 miles per hour. Jurrasic Park Discovery Center is an interactive center for paleontology and dinosaur studies along with The Burger Digs, a burger joint located inside. In addition to The Burger Digs, Jurassic Park contains three more quick-service dining options. Thunder Falls Terrace features ribs and rotisserie chicken and is the highlight of dining on this island. Pizza Predattoria and The Watering Hole offer quick bites of pizza and refreshments from your jungle escapades.
Following past Jurassic Park, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade showcases immaculate attention to detail of the village of Hogsmeade as well as The Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and its grounds. The Hogwarts Express - Hogsmeade Station is located just outside the entrance to this magical world. Guests with tickets to both Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida can board the interactive train for a ride through the English countryside to Diagon Alley. A giant archway indicates the guest’s arrival at Hogsmeade, a historic English village with lined shopping streets.
The streets of Hogsmeade are bound by a plethora of magical shops from the Harry Potter franchise. Honeydukes is a must-see for any visitor with a sweet tooth. Browse a wide selection of candy and baked goods from the series. Check out the Chocolate Frogs for a collectible character card and Bertie Bott’s Every Flavoured Beans for surprise and unique tasting jelly beans. Dervish and Banges is a Harry Potter souvenir paradise stuffed with all necessary memorabilia. The Owl Post is a stationery store where guests can purchase a postcard stamped with a unique Hogsmeade postmark and ship home any souvenirs too big to carry home. Towards the Hogwarts Castle, the dungeon-themed Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods includes unique souvenirs and icons from the show. Finally, shopping in Hogsmeade would not be complete without a trip to Ollivander’s Wand Shop where guests can enjoy the entertainment of a “wand choosing” and purchase wands of your favorite characters from the series. If guests choose an interactive wand, they can follow the map to cast spells across Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley to explore hidden secrets and unlock easter eggs.
For dining in Hogsmeade, there is The Three Broomsticks and Hog’s Head Pub, a combined restaurant where wizards can get a refreshing ButterBeer or stick to the muggle drinks of choice, a specialty draft beer or fire whiskey. Finally, there are three rides in Hogsmeade. The Flight of the Hippogriff is a youth roller coaster taking guests on a ride through the forest on the back of a Hippogriff, a giant flying horse-eagle hybrid. Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure is a launch steel roller coaster flying through the Forbidden Forest with a host of characters and creatures from the franchise making an appearance. This attraction is notable as the most expensive roller coaster ever built at a cost of $300 million. It is the longest roller coaster in Florida which includes a stunning seven launches. Finally, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is a motion-dark ride located at the far end of the land inside Hogwarts Castes. Guests wait in lines themed in locations within the Hogwarts Castle. The ride shifts and moves as riders move through scenes from the series like a Quittich flight and a Dementor fight. This ride is renowned and has been awarded first or second Best Dark Ride since its opening.
After guests have had their fill of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, the next stop on the tour of Islands of Adventure is The Lost Continent, an ancient myth and legend-themed island. In this land, explore an ancient Greek city and a Middle Eastern bazaar. The singular attraction in The Lost Continent is Poseidon’s Fury, an indoor walk-through experience where guests accompany an archeological journey and get caught in the middle of a battle between Poseidon and Lord Darkenon. Also located on this island, The Mystic Fountain is a magical conversing fountain that may spray water at guests when given incorrect answers. Mythos Restaurant is a full-service restaurant and allows guests to indulge in a mix of American, Asian, and Mediterranean dishes. Fire Eater’s Grill and Doc Sugrue’s Desert Kebab House are alternative quick-service dining options. After a trip to a land of myths and legends, the final island covers the books and universe of Dr. Suess.
Seuss Landing is located just to the right of the Port of Entry and is our final stop around the Island of Adventure park. The Whimsical and fairytale world of Dr. Seuss where there are no straight lines is filled with attractions aimed at the younger park guests. This land also hosts familiar characters and experiences for adults who wish to relive their childhood memories. There are four attractions on this island geared towards young guests - The Cat in the Hat, The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride, One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish, and the Caro-Seuss-el. A Musical show based on a variety of Dr. Seuss characters can be found at Oh, The Stories You’ll Hear. If I Ran the Zoo is an interactive children’s play zone with Seuss-themed play areas. There are also four quick-service dining facilities on this island. Circus McGurkus Cafe Stoo-pendous carries fast food favorites like pizza and fried chicken. Green Eggs and Ham is a unique stop with specially designed food like Who Hash and a variety of tater tots with assorted toppings. Moose Juice, Goose Juice and Hop on Pop Ice Cream Shop sell quick drinks and snacks for those on the go.
Universal’s Volcano Bay
The third and final finished park at Universal Orlando Resort is Volcano Bay, a tropical-themed waterpark that opened for the 2017 season. The iconic landmark of this park is the beautiful 200-foot tall volcano named Krakatau that is featured on park iconography. Volcano Bay is intricately styled in four themed areas inspired by unique Oceania islands and cultures. The four themed areas are as follows - Wave Village, The Volcano, River Village, and Rainforest Village. The Volcano area is host to an interactive meet ‘n’ greet experience. Although the volcano physically contains four large attractions, they are split between the other three sections of the park.
This park has a unique feature only available at Volcano Bay. The TapuTapu system is a free electronic wristband that acts as a wallet, locker key, and return ticket so that there is no need to carry around a wallet or anything else that may keep guests from enjoying a day at Volcano Bay. The TapuTapu system incorporates Universal’s virtual lines program wherein guests check-in line for a particular ride and a time shown for their return and entry to the queue. This novel program allows guests to enjoy the day instead of spending large amounts of the day waiting in lines.
The Wave Village is the initial area guests will reach once entering the park gates. Wave Village is the primary relaxation and lounging site for the water theme park. The majority of the village contains Waturi Beach, a massive swimming and wave pool with an abundance of beach and lounge chairs perfect for a landing place and home base. Guests can swim amongst waterfalls and multi-directional waves at Waturi Beach. There are additional options for premium seating and cabanas to rent in this area of the park. Adjacent to Waturi Beach, The Reef is a leisure pool, without the possibility of the rough waters in Waturi Beach. The Reef has its waterfall flowing into the pool and is a perfect spot to view the brave souls shooting down the Ko’okiri Body Plunge. The singular thrill ride in the Wave Village is the Ko’okiri Body Plunge, a drop-door slide that takes riders on a wild ride of a 70-degree angle plunge down the side of the Krakatau Volcano.
Going to the right of the monumental volcano, guests will arrive at River Village, a Polynesian paradise with a little of everything. Given the area’s name, Kopiko Wai Winding River is a lazy river that passes through the Krakatau Volcano and traverses the entire land. The lazy river takes features numerous surprises as guests float down the Kopiko Wai Winding River with waterfalls and sprays of water. The river creates an island reachable by three bridges over the water. This island contains the Tot Tiki Reef and Runamukka Reef which are play areas designed for younger kids and perfect for some relaxation for parents as the kids burn off energy in the numerous slides and water features. Honu ika Moana are two adjacent multiperson intertube water slides - Honu and Ika Moana. Honu takes guests on a ride on the back of a sea turtle while Ika Moana takes guests on a ride on the back of a whale. The final attraction in this area is the Krakatau Aqua Coaster, the highlight attraction of Volcano Bay, located within the Krakatau Volcano. The aqua coaster is a four-person canoe ride down the side of a volcano with hills and numerous twists and turns.
The final land of Volcano Bay is the Rainforest Village. The Rainforest Village is the park’s adventure and thrill ride area and constrains most of the water and raft rides. Starting again at the Krakatau Volcano, the Kala and Tai Nai Serpentine Body Slides where visitors are simultaneously sent down the volcano through drop doors where their paths snake and cross on several occasions. Another body slide, the Puga Racers, is a water slide racing adventure where four guests face off to see who can descend the fastest. Ohyah and Ohno Drop Slides are adjacent thrilling body slides. The Ohno slide is a tad more intense with a 6-foot final drop but both slides take guests on a twisting ride through the rainforest. The Maku Puihi Round Raft Rides are a duo of six-person raft water slides which each feature their unique path through funnels, bowls, drops, and twists down to the lagoon below. Tonga and Raki of Taniwha Tubes are single or double inner tube water attractions that are more on the mild side with the expectation of hidden water jets but offer guests two different water experiences. In addition to the many waterslides in this village, the TeAwa the Fearless River is another attraction for thrill-seekers. In opposition to the lazy river in the River Village, The Fearless River is a high-speed whitewater rafting adventure featuring rapids, waves, and other surprises. For a more relaxing stay at Rainforest Village, the Puke Uli Lagoon is an interactive water playground and pool. After a day of water adventures, there are numerous snack and dining options in the park to quench thirsty mouths and fill empty stomachs. The Kunuku Boat Bar is a full-service bar for adults with tropical island drinks. Overall, Universal’s Volcano Bay is really is a third main gate to the resort and truly lives up to its promise as a water theme park offering options for guests of all ages to enjoy a day in the water.
Universal CityWalk
Universal Citywalk is a shopping, dining, and entertainment district at Universal Orlando Resort arranged around a gorgeous lagoon and is the perfect place for a night in the town. Similar to the two theme parks and the waterpark, CityWalk is accessible from the central parking facility that makes for easy access when entering or exiting the two theme parks.
Dining is a popular activity at CityWalk and with an abundance of choices, even the pickiest eater will be placated. Dining options range in a wide variety from fast food service to full-service restaurants. Unique quick-service options of Hot Dog Hall of Fame and Bend the Bao compete with standard American chains like Moe’s Southwest Grill, Starbucks, and Burger King. In the realm of full-service restaurants, CityWalk hosts many popular dining options including Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Restaurant and Market, Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville, Hard Rock Cafe Orlando, and VIVO Italian Kitchen. The restaurant Bigfire is known for its tableside s’mores and fire-grilled options. Toothsome Chocolate Emporium and Savory Feast Kitchen is an option for those who love all-day brunch and a cocoa-inspired menu. Themed restaurants are also plentiful with Bob Marley - A Tribute to Freedom, NBC Sports Grill and Brew, and Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar. For a good night out, check out the bars at CityWalk - Fat Tuesday, Lone Palm Airport, and Red Coconut Club. Fat Tuesday allows patrons to create their frozen concoctions in a relaxing location next to the lagoon. Red Coconut Club is a two-story dance club with dinner and drink options. Each night features a different themed music experience.
For entertainment, guests can watch a movie at Universal Cinemark, sing karaoke at CityWalk’s Rising Star, or play a round of mini-golf at Hollywood Drive-In Mini Golf. Fantastic shopping options are another reason to enjoy Universal’s CityWalk. The Universal Studios Store provides guests to peruse an assortment of Universal and cinematic souvenirs and is a great place to get something to remember your time at Universal Studios Orlando. Universal Legacy Store allows guests to browse retro memorabilia. Guests can take home a more permanent remembrance of Universal Studios at Hart and Huntington Tattoo Company. Finally, Quiet Flight Surf Shop is a place to visit for any summertime or Florida needs, especially if you forgot your sunscreen.
Universal Lodging
Universal Studious Orlando Resort contains eight official on-site hotels for an immersive experience in the Universal world. Of the eight hotels, there are varying degrees of quality, three are Premier Hotels, one is a Preferred Hotel, 2 are Prime Value Hotels, and two are Value Hotels. The three Premier Hotels are the Italian seaside village-themed Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, California mission-themed Hard Rock Hotel, and the South Pacific-themed Loews Royal Pacific Resort. The Preferred Hotel is the tropical estate themed-Loews Sapphire Falls Resort. Prime Value Hotels include the classic Floridian resort themed-Universal Cabana Bay Beach Resort and a Modern Universal’s Aventura Hotel. Finally, the Value Hotels include a surfing resort named Universal’s Summer Resort - Surfside Inn and Suites as well as the coastal resort named Universal’s Endless Summer Resort - Dockside Inn and Suites. The combined number of hotel rooms equals an astounding 9,000 rooms. Additionally, all eight hotels are located close to the theme parks, water park, and CityWalk district via walking, water taxi, or shuttle bus.
Travel Recommendations
After an overview of the Universal Studios Orlando Resort, let’s dive into any remaining questions you may have about visiting Universal Studios Orlando Resort.
What is the Weather?
Orlando has a humid subtropical climate. The hot and rainy season lasts from May through October while the warm and dry season is from November to April. The weather is warm enough year-round that the Volcano Bay Water Theme Park does not close for the winter months. The optimal months to visit Universal Orlando Resort are between September and April as the summer months are often hot, humid, and crowded with school children on summer breaks. If you visit in the winter months of December and January, be aware that average daily temperatures range between low 50-degree to low 70-degree Fahrenheit temperatures and might not be the most opportune weather for sunbathing at Volcano Bay. However, the water at Volcano Bay is heated, so staying in the water is a viable option. The summer months can be unbearably hot and humid so if you are planning a visit during this time, make sure to stay hydrated and find places to cool down while enjoying the park. Most outdoor areas and lines have misting systems to keep visitors cool.
How do I Get There and Where Should I Park?
Universal Studios Orlando Resort is reachable by road through Interstate 4 from Downtown Orlando and Florida 482 from the Orlando International Airport. For guests who do not wish to pay for daily parking, ride-sharing options may be optimal if staying in locations outside of the Universal Studios Resort. Each of the hotels offers nearby parking for guests staying at the hotel. Day-trippers and those not staying at Universal Studios Orlando Resort can park in the large parking garage and transit center that has shuttle buses to the hotels and Volcano Bay. From the transit center, there is a walkway to reach CityWalk and the two theme parks. Parking is free after 6 PM and when booking two matinee tickets for a movie at Universal Cinemark.
What are the Special Events at Universal Studios Orlando?
Universal Studios Orlando offers many unique and entertaining special and annual events throughout the year. Mardi Gras at Universal is known as Florida’s Biggest Party with authentic New Orleans floats, live music, and food. This event is hosted on select days in the Spring.
Universal Orlando’s Grad Bash is a celebration of high school graduates with a fun and exciting night at the two theme parks. At this annual event hosted in late Spring, there are live concerts, dance parties, and street entertainment just for graduating seniors to live their best summer yet. Additionally, a similar themed event called Gradventure is a select day in the late Spring for graduating middle schoolers to have an exciting day with dance parties and live concerts in a supervised environment with a dinner voucher to dine in the parks included.
When the summer heat fades and Autumn comes to Orlando, Universal offers the Halloween Horror Nights event where guests can experience terrifying haunted houses, scare zones, and themed live entertainment. This Halloween spectacular has been named one of the best Halloween events in the country. Filled with ten haunted houses, the Halloween Horror Nights provide guests with even more opportunities for screams and thrills.
After the horror of Halloween, Universal Orlando sets the scene for a beautiful and family-friendly holiday season with Holidays at Universal Orlando Resort. Universal shows guests the holiday spirit with season shows and decorations in both Wizarding World of Harry Potter lands, massive balloons and colorful Christmas floats in the walk-through Universal’s Holiday Experience, and enjoy a WHOliday at the Dr. Suess Land which The Grinch comes to steal Christmas.
What are Nearby Activities?
Orlando is often named the theme park capital of the world with numerous nearby attractions for those who wish to explore the city outside of Universal Studios Orlando Resort. The Walt Disney World Resort is a top destination for guests who wish to get the full Orlando theme park experience. Only a few miles away, Walt Disney World Resort offers four theme parks, two waterparks, numerous hotels, and a shopping district.
Other fantastic activities in Orlando include the Orlando Museum of Art and a thriving nightlife scene in downtown Orlando. The Orange County Convention Center is also a remarkable attraction with a plethora of conventions year-round that bring people to the area.
In addition to the local Orlando activities, Universal Studios Orlando is an ideal location for adventures across the Florida peninsula. Orlando is about 1.5 hours from historic Daytona Beach, and roughly 2 hours from Tampa Bay. Although situated in Central Florida, it is merely a 1.5 to 2-hour drive east or west to Florida’s famous beaches including Honeymoon Island State Park.
Are there Gay-Friendly Activities?
Theme parks in Orlando offer unofficial “Gay Days” in June of each year when many LGBTQ+ travelers coordinate to wear red to signify their support for the LGBTQ+ community. Events around the city are held in support of the community that brings in up to 180,000 people to theme parks, pool parties, attractions, and special events during this time. Gay Days partners with host hotels to provide safe and free transportation to Universal, Disney, and other local attractions. Information on specific days for Universal Studios Orlando Resorts Gay Days can be found at www.gaydays.com.
What are the Costs and Hours?
Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Island of Adventure are open 365 days a year with normal operating hours from 9:00 AM with varying closing times depending on the season and special events. Universal’s Volcano Bay has normal operating hours beginning at 10:00 AM with varying closing times depending on the season and special events. Universal’s CityWalk has operating hours from 11:00 AM to 2:00 AM every day of the year. Ticket prices will vary depending on many factors including but not limited to bundle deals, time of the year, combined tickets, and day of the week. If you wish to book a trip to Universal Studios Orlando, please click the link below.
What will your adventure hold at Universal Studios Orlando?
Universal Studios Orlando Address: 6000 Universal Blvd, Orlando, FL 32819
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