Let’s face it: no American movie fan would be foolish enough to underestimate the absolute charm of a pilgrimage visit to Hollywood and more precisely to the sensational Universal Studios. Not everyone knows that, in Florida, and more precisely in Orlando, there is a valid alternative to the most famous theme park in California: Universal Orlando Resort, better known as Universal Studios Orlando.
The biggest difference from the original is the tour in the real movie studios, a significant detail that obviously establishes the qualitative and substantial difference between the two parks. However, Universal Studios Orlando has a lot to offer (starting with the size, much larger than the original) and still makes a good impression among the many Orlando parks.
As we know, the parks in this area are one of the top reasons of interest for a tour in Florida, and every amusement park lover calls this city a sort of Mecca to be visited at least once in a lifetime. So how could it be possible to miss – on the amazing International Drive, among water parks and theme parks of all kinds – a branch of the theme park dedicated to the most famous cinema in the world?
Contents
- About Universal Orlando
- How to get to Universal Studios Orlando
- Universal City Walk: the antechamber of fun!
- Universal Studios Florida, the cinema experience
- Universal Islands of Adventure, with Harry Potter, Hulk and Popeye…
- Universal Islands of Adventure Attractions
- Universal Islands of Adventure Shows
- Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure?
- How to skip the lines at Universal Studios
- How many days to spend at Universal Orlando
- Universal Orlando Tickets
- Where to Stay at Universal Studios Orlando (and nearby)
About Universal Orlando
Inaugurated in 1990, Universal Orlando Resort is the second largest park in all of Orlando and includes two different theme parks: Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure.
The two areas are independent in concept and each requires a separate ticket, but, as we will see, there are advantageous packages in case you want to visit both. Between the two parks there is also a new themed area entirely dedicated to Harry Potter, which reproduces the sets of Hogsmeade (in Universal’s Islands of Adventure) and Diagon Alley (in Universal Studios). In the counterpart of Hollywood in California, an area dedicated to the most famous wizard in the world has also been included, although smaller in size and limited to the area of Hogsmeade.
A new Universal water theme park, Volcano Bay, also opened in 2017, replacing the former Wet ‘n Wild Orlando, which was located a bit outside the park’s boundaries. However, if your interest is movies, it will certainly not be the latter that will attract your attention, so let’s find out how to visit Universal Orlando.
How to get to Universal Studios Orlando
Located just 8 miles from the giant DisneyWorld Orlando, Universal Orlando is located at the following address, including coordinates for GPS:
Theme Parks & CityWalk Parking Garage 6000 Universal Boulevard Orlando, FL 32819 Latitude: 28.47399 Longitude: -81.46228
Following this address will take you to the Universal Orlando parking area, where your visit to the park will begin. The daily cost of parking is not included in the entrance fee and depends on the area you choose; here are the rates:
- Prime Parking: $35
- Regular Parking: $25
- RV/Bus Parking: $30
If you want to avoid paying for parking you can choose to stay in hotels on International Drive, many of which offer a very convenient free transfer service to the park.
Universal City Walk: the antechamber of fun!
The first area you will encounter is Universal City Walk, a pleasant boulevard that anticipates the atmosphere of the park, where you can drink, eat, shop and get lost in the nightlife: you will walk along an avenue lined with stores, restaurants, clubs, theaters (including the exciting Blue Man Group, for which you can buy tickets separately) and an IMAX multiplex cinema, a scenario quite similar to Hollywood Studios, all things considered. At this point, unlike the Los Angeles park, however, you’ll have to make a choice: take the road to Universal Studios Florida or go to Universal’s Island of Adventure?
Are you already panicking? Don’t worry, in the next two paragraphs I’ll show you what to expect from both, so as to make your choice easier or… make it harder for you!
Universal Studios Florida, the cinema experience
Let’s start with Universal Studios Florida, which follows the map of Universal Studios Hollywood, favoring the experience of 3D rides. The park is divided into a series of evocative thematic areas that contain rides, shows and where it is very pleasant to walk around:
- Production Central
- New York City
- San Francisco
- The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley
- World Expo
- Springfield: Home of the Simpsons
- Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone
- Hollywood
Universal Studios Attractions
Let’s start with the most important new attraction in recent years (even for Universal Los Angeles): The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley. As an old fan of the Rowlings’ novels, I admit I’m biased, but for me this attraction (limiting definition, being in all respects a section of the park) is worth the price of the Universal Studios Florida ticket alone.
The reconstruction of the wizarding world is impressive: the magical atmosphere of Diagon Alley is tangible, and there’s Olivander’s workshop (which will show you how wands choose their wizards, not the other way around)! You can also take a remarkable 3D ride: Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, a breathtaking chase down the tunnels and dungeons of the most famous bank in the wizarding world.
Spend some time in this section of the park, pop into the Weasley brothers’ store (Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes), sip some butterbeer and take time for a little detour into Knockturn Alley. But that’s not all: know that many other attractions related to the Wizarding World (Hogwarts and Hogsmeade) are in the other park, which you can get to on the Hogwarts Express (accessible only to those who have tickets for both parks). To clarify, we have written a detailed guide entirely dedicated to the Harry Potter Theme Park in Orlando.
In addition to the magical world of Harry Potter, there is still much more to do. Go to the Production Central section: there are the 3D rides of California’s Universal Studios. It’s worth mentioning the Despicable Me Minion Mayhem (hilarious 3D experience of Despicable Me), and TRANSFORMERS: The Ride-3D, one of the most successful. Universal’s parks, not least the one in Orlando, also rely heavily on the 4D experience of Shrek, where touch and smell are also involved.
In the other sections of the park you will find the thriller shades of the classic The Revenge of the Mummy, the surreal and fun interactive experience of MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack, the 3D ride of The Simpsons, the Jimmy Fallon carousel (a high-speed ride among the most important attractions of New York and beyond, get ready for a space trip!) and the one dedicated to Fast & Furious, an adrenaline-filled chase involving cars, motorcycles, trucks, and even bulldozers. Woody Woodpeckers’s Kidzone, on the other hand, is completely dedicated to the little ones, with shows and rides for kids.
Universal Studios Shows
Some shows take place freely on the street, for others you will have to enter special rooms. I recommend the Blues Brothers Show (a fan of the film cannot miss it!) and Horror Make-up Show, to find out how the scariest special effects are made. Animal actors get their own stage in the Animal Actors on Location show. Throughout the park and especially in the cities with the reconstructed views of New York and San Francisco you can find restaurants, fast-food restaurants and stores, where you can refresh yourself and spend the little time you have left after the rides and shows.
Universal Islands of Adventure, with Harry Potter, Hulk and Popeye…
The fact that we are talking about it second does not mean that it is a second-rate theme park, far from it! The choice between the two parks is difficult, because Universal Islands of Adventure is also strongly focused on movie-themed attractions and rather than differentiating itself from Universal Studios Florida, it represents its natural extension (it’s no coincidence that in both parks you can find attractions also present at Universal Studios Hollywood). Moreover, here you will find the complementary section of The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter, with evocative reconstructions of the sets of Hogwarts and Hogsmeade Village.Here’s an overview of the themed areas into which the park is divided:
- Port of Entry
- Marvel Super Hero Island
- Toon Lagoon
- Skull Island: Reign of Kong
- Jurassic Park
- The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade
- The Lost Continent
- Seuss Landing
Universal Islands of Adventure Attractions
Again, we start with The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter, the spearhead of all Universal Orlando, so much so that it is often considered a park in itself. In this park, as I told you, we find attractions that are somehow complementary to those of Universal Studios Florida: if the other park focuses on Diagon Alley, here you have the opportunity to wander around Hogsmeade, drinking a Butterbeer under the towers of Hogwarts castle… a real heart-tugger for those who loved Harry Potter books and movies.
Two attractions are worth mentioning: the interactive dark ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, not to be missed right from the area where you start queuing (you’ll walk inside Hogwarts castle seeing the paintings talking), and Flight of the Hippogriff, a quiet ride suitable for the little ones. Finally, Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure is a roller coaster through the woods of Hogwarts.
Among the other attractions, worth mentioning is the traditional, unmissable escape from the T-rex of Jurassic Park River Adventure, a water-ride with precise indications of danger (You’ll Get Wet, and it’s not a casual warning, you really get wet!), just like the ride Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges. On the 3D side, try the attraction The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, an excellent three-dimensional dark ride that will take your breath away, but not as much as the roller coaster of The Incredible Hulk or the tower of Doctor Doom’s Fearfall, not recommended for the faint of heart. For the little ones, there’s the Seuss Landing kid area, especially the visionary and imaginative dark ride The Cat In The Hat.
Universal Islands of Adventure Shows
As in the case of Universal Studios Florida, there are not only rides and water games, but also shows inspired by the world of cinema: for example, Raptor Encounter, to meet a Velociraptor up close, The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle, and Poseidon’s Fury, where a guided tour of the ancient temple of Poseidon awaits you, needless to say that the tour will soon turn into an adventure!
Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure?
So which should you choose between the 2 parks? The truth is that these parks are substantially similar, designed as an extension of each other rather than in competition. This means that missing one of them will leave you with a sour taste in your mouth. If you can, therefore, visit them both. If, on the other hand, you are forced to choose, here are some small differences to take into account:
- Unlike Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure boasts 2 water rides (Jurassic Park and Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls)
- As for the Harry Potter-themed areas, in my opinion, the one at Universal Studios (Diagon Alley) can boast a much more impressive reconstruction, but the ride at Islands of Adventure (Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey) is perhaps slightly better
- If you love high-adrenaline rides Islands of Adventure offers a little something extra (The Incredible Hulk and Doctor Doom’s Fearfall vs. Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit)
How to skip the lines at Universal Studios
With the Universal Express pass, you’ll only be able to skip the lines at all the attractions 1 time, while with the Unlimited Express you can do it as many times as you want. This doesn’t mean that you won’t have to wait in line, because like you many others will have the same pass, but you can still join the express line, the fastest one, which, if you visit the park on weekends or on a busy day, will make a big difference: the lines are long and for the most popular rides can take over an hour of waiting, I have visited the park on a Saturday in high season and I have never waited more than a quarter of an hour, even in the Harry Potter rides, which are the most crowded.
How many days to spend at Universal Orlando
You can take 2 days to visit Universal Orlando, possibly dedicating 1 day to each of the two parks with the ticket 2-Park 2-Day or visit both parks in 1 day with the Universal Express pass. If you are only interested in the Harry Potter themed attractions, the advice is to do the 2-Park 1-Day Base Ticket, which will still allow you a visit with no regrets. Unfortunately, since The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter is spread over 2 parks, it is not possible to have a complete experience by visiting only 1 of them: to understand the differences and the advantages of the double ticket, please see our article on how to choose between Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley. Warning! If you find tickets that include admission to 3 parks, it is because the offer also includes admission to the Volcano Bay water park, opened in 2017.
Universal Orlando Tickets
You can buy tickets on site, but you risk getting queuing in long lines and wasting precious time. That’s why it’s best to be prepared and buy your tickets to Universal Orlando in advance. There are several types: daily tickets for individual parks (Base Ticket), cumulative Park to Park tickets to visit both sections of Universal Studios Orlando, multi-day tickets for individual parks and park to park, VIP tickets and many others. Below are 2 links that hold the main types of tickets you can choose from:
- 1-Park 1-Day Base Ticket: to enter a single park on one day.
- 2-Park 2/3/4/5 Day Base Ticket: you can enter for 2, 3, 4 or 5 days (within a week) in both parks, but you can only visit one park per day. For example, if you buy a 2-Park 3 Day Base Ticket, you can visit Universal Studios Florida on Day 1, Island of Adventures on Day 2, Universal Studios Florida again on Day 3, and so on.
- 2-Park 1-Day Park-to-Park Ticket: will allow you to enter both parks on the same day
- 2-Park 2/3/4/5 -Day Park-to-Park Ticket: the park-to-park mode explained above is also available for 2, 3, 4, 5 days within a week.
Miami to Orlando Universal Studios
Obviously you can easily travel from Miami to Orlando by car (here is a guide on how to rent a car), however, in cases where your vacation does not include travel by car, it may be useful to know that there is a transport service from Miami to the Orlando Theme Parks:
Where to Stay at Universal Studios Orlando (and nearby)
For a total experience, ranging from morning to nightlife to sleep comfort, you can choose one of the various resorts within the park, which can provide some great perks ahead of your visit to Universal Orlando, including the freeExpress Pass, to skip the lines at certain attractions, and the aforementioned shuttle to the park. I’ll point out the various options:
- Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort: in addition to the very high level of the facility, which is well connected to the two parks, those who stay here can get admission to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter 1 hour before opening.
- Universal’s Loews Portofino Bay Hotel: another top-notch resort, but with a Mediterranean style… who wouldn’t want to find a Portofino just a stone’s throw from Universal Studios? Those who choose this resort can take advantage of many benefits when visiting the park: the Express Pass, transportation to the parks and early entrance to the Wizarding World.
- Universal’s Loews Royal Pacific Resort: are we in Florida or not? Here’s a facility with tropical-style finishes, interiors and exteriors…there’s even a lagoon-pool! Here, too, you get early entry to Harry’s World and other perks.
- Universal’s Loews Sapphire Falls Resort: as the name of the resort implies, here the classic tropical dream setting is complemented by a pool with waterfalls. Early entry to the park.
- Universal’s Hard Rock Hotel: The famous Hard Rock brand has its place of honor within Universal Studios Orlando. In addition to the impeccable and charming quality of the facility, you can take advantage of a water cab to reach the CityWalk.
If you don’t want to stay overnight inside the park and want cheaper accommodation, you can look for your hotel around Universal Studios. On International Drive and in the vicinity there are numerous possibilities at a good price; I stayed at the The Point Hotel, which has a shuttle service, breakfast and pool, offers good value for money, especially given the proximity to the park, for other solutions in the area take a look at the link below:
List of cheap hotels near Universal Orlando
At the link below you will finally find some more in-depth advice for choosing a hotel in Orlando: there are numerous solutions available and if you prefer to find accommodation in Downtown Orlando, it is just 10 miles away from Universal Studios.
