Universal Orlando Resort - Part 2
Universal CityWalk CityWalk is Universal Orlando's dining and entertainment district, featuring an array of restaurants, shops and nightlife. I can recommend Vivo Italian kitchen, NBC Sports Grill and Brew plus Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Pat O’Briens is great fun with duelling piano players and for anyone that likes karaoke, check out Rising Star. The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium is a steampunk-themed restaurant known for its extravagant milkshakes and inventive food.
Universal Explorer Ticket To experience everything Universal Orlando has to offer, the Universal 3-Park (and new 4-Park) Explorer Ticket is the way to go! Only available outside of the U.S., this ticket offers amazing value and provides unlimited access to Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and Volcano Bay for a set number of days, allowing you to explore at your own pace. The benefits include: • Cost Savings: Save money compared to purchasing individual tickets for each park. • Flexibility: Move freely between parks to experience all the rides and attractions including the Hogwarts Express. • Convenience: Simplify your planning with a single ticket covering all three parks.
Plan Your Universal Orlando Adventure Universal Orlando Resort is more than just a collection of theme parks; it’s a world of entertainment that offers something for everyone. Whether you’re a Harry Potter fanatic, a thrill-seeker, or a family with young children, there’s no shortage of activities and experiences to enjoy. Here are some tips to make the most of your visit:
Planning Tips: • Download the Universal Orlando Resort App: This app provides real-time updates on ride wait times, show schedules and dining options. • Stay On-Site: Maximize convenience and enjoy exclusive benefits by staying at one of Universal's hotels. • Use the Express Pass: For an additional fee, the Express Pass allows you to skip regular lines on most attractions, saving valuable time. • Take Advantage of Single Rider Lines: If you don’t mind splitting up your group, single rider lines can significantly reduce your wait times. • Travel during off-peak times if possible, avoiding the U.S. school holidays including Easter, summer (usually end of May to mid August), Halloween and Christmas - February is usually quiet. We travelled before memorial weekend in May and found the parks to be quiet midweek but busier leading up to the weekend. • The parks get busier at the weekends so plan your days off relaxing at your hotel or doing day tours during that time.
Universals Cabana Bay Beach Resort I really enjoyed staying here. It is a brilliant resort for families with a 50’s/60’s retro style and lots of great family-friendly facilities for a fun-filled stay. There are 2 outdoor pools, a lazy river, sand beach, water slide and poolside games. Towels and life jackets are provided complimentary. Inflatable rings are for sale ranging from $8 upwards. Lifeguards are on duty during opening hours. For an evening treat, there are nightly movies by the pool - a great way to relax after a day at the parks. Or for something more energetic, the resort has its own ten lane bowling alley open from midday to 11pm (from $18.50 pp). There is also a games arcade, a gym & a shop with plenty of essentials plus Universal merchandise. There are a number of food stations at the Bayliner Diner food court. We found this great for breakfast before going to the parks. You can buy a refillable souvenir cup, offering unlimited drinks from self-service machines at the hotel (water is free) - $12.50 for 1 day, $18 for 3 days, $22 for 7 days & $25 for ‘length of stay’. The hotel features its own Starbucks onsite plus a ‘Shakes malt shoppe’. Food and drink are also available at the bowling alley including cocktails, wine and beer. There are poolside restaurants offering drinks and snacks during the day. And you can order pizza to your room! One of the resort's standout features is its direct walking path to Universal's Volcano Bay water park. This was so handy & is a fantastic plus for families in my opinion. Guests also benefit from early park admission plus complimentary shuttle services to Universal’s theme parks nearby. The buses operate regularly, but my favourite way to get to the Universal theme parks was to walk across the road to Loews Sapphire Falls hotel & take the water shuttle. This was much more relaxing & as bags were screened before boarding the boat, it was very quick to enter the parks on arrival.
Hotels that offer complimentary express passes for Universal Orlando theme parks: • Loews Royal Pacific Resort Orlando • Loews Hard Rock Hotel • Loews Portofino Bay Hotel
We did see the other Universal Orlando hotels including Endless Summer Resort, Aventura, Sapphire Falls plus the above 3 premium hotels. Please contact me for more information about these Universal Orlando hotels, so that I can recommend the right property for you.
I hope that you have enjoyed reading this blog and that it has whet your appetite for your next Orlando adventure. As always, don't hesitate to get in touch contact me to put together your perfect tailor-made holiday itinerary.
