The Basics

Universal Studios Orlando is a theme park, home to thrill rides, 3-D adventures, and action-packed shows that can be fun for any budget. It features something for the whole family. It has four separate sections: Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, Universal CityWalk, and Volcano Bay (the waterpark). Universal Entertainment includes Fast and Furious, Transformers, E.T., Jurassic World, Harry Potter, Dr. Seuss, and more.

It is located on Universal Drive in Orlando, Florida. It is near Disney World and Sea World, other popular theme parks.

I recommend a 1 or 2 day visit, maybe 3 if you plan on going to the waterpark multiple times.

The Parks

Universal Studios Florida

Best Attractions

1. The Bourne Stuntacular

2. Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon

• Air-conditioned
• Usually only a five minute wait
• 3-D

3. Hollywood Rip-Ride Rockit

• Thrill roller-coaster (straight up, straight down)
• Get to choose your own music to listen to
• Warning: jerks you around a little

4. Revenge of the Mummy

• Complete with animatronics and dramatic twists and turns
• Can have a really short line (walk right on)
• Don’t need to put phone or items in a locker

Other Attractions

• Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
• Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast
• E.T. Adventure
• Fast And Furious-Supercharged
• Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
• Hogwarts Express
• Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl
• MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack
• Shrek 4-D
• TRANSFORMERS: The Ride 3-D
• The Simpsons Ride
• Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster

Islands of Adventure (My Favorite)

Best Rides

1. Jurassic World VelociCoaster (My favorite ride of all the parks at Universal)

• Thrill roller-coaster (upside down, sudden movement)
• Lap bar instead of chest pull-down
• Warning: early entry doesn’t apply, since it’s a newer ride

2. Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure

• Thrill roller-coaster
• Warning: virtual line can get up to 4 hours+ wait
• Tip: go during early entry

3. The Incredible Hulk Coaster

• Thrill roller-coaster (upside down, loops)
• Chest pull-down bar
• Not recommended for those who have back, neck, or heart issues
• Warning: it jerks you around

4. The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man

• Impressive effects
• 3-D

Other Attractions

• Jurassic Park River Adventure
• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
• Hogwarts Express
• Caro-Seuss-el
• Doctor Doom’s Fearfall
• Dudley Do-Rights Ripsaw Falls
• Flight of the Hippogriff
• Hogwart’s Express: Hogsmeade Station
• One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish
• Popeye and Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges
  • Warning: You will get excessively soaked! 
  • Drying machines are available for $5 (but they don’t fully dry you off) 
• Pteranadon Flyers
• Skull Island: Reign of Kong
• Storm Force Acceletron
• The Cat in the Hat
• The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride!

Volcano Bay

Tip: Get there early in the morning if the busy rides are important to you because there are only virtual lines. You will receive a special wristband at the park’s entrance to use at rides or to pay for food. You scan them at stations at each ride, and you cannot be in the line for multiple rides at once.

Best Attractions

1. Ko’okiri Body Plunge

• Thrill-seeker’s paradise (busy ride)
• 125 foot drop
• Only lasts a couple of seconds
• People on the sides of the tube can watch you when you come through the end
• Not for the puny! (or those who fear heights or drowning or have claustrophobia)
• Warning: Your swim bottoms might be pulled up from the speed (so make sure you pull them down before you come out of the end and everyone can see you!)

2. Kopiko Wai Winding River

• Relaxing
• Lazy river with inner tubes

3. Krakatau Water Coaster

• Thrill water coaster
• Four person ride
• Warning Most popular water ride (always busy–so get in the virtual line early)

4. Waturi Beach

• Wave pool
• Chairs available

5. Punga Racers

• Usually no wait line (if there’s no virtual line, you can walk right on)
• Single-rider

Universal City Walk

A main strip of restaurants and shops, Universal City Walk is a fun spot to get a bite to eat and hang out. After a long day of enjoying the parks, you can walk around this stretch to get souvenirs or enjoy a treat. 

Food:

• Antojito’s Authentic Mexican Food
• Auntie Anne’s
• Bigfire
• Bend the Bao
• Bob Marley–A Tribute to Freedom
• Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Restaurant and Market
• Hard Rock Café Orlando
• Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville
• NBC Sports Grill & Brew
• Pat O’Brien’s
• The Cowfish
• The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium and Savory Feast Kitchen
• VIVO Italian Kitchen
• Cinnabon
• Burger King Whopper Bar
• Moe’s Southwest Grill
• Voodoo Doughnut
• Red Oven Pizza Bakery
• Coldstone Creamery
• Bread Box Handcrafted Sandwiches
• Fusion Bistro Sushi and Sake Bar
• Hot Dog Hall of Fame
• Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt
• Panda Express
• Starbucks

Entertainment:

• Hollywood Drive-In Golf
• Universal Cinemark
• Hard Rock Live

Nightlife:

• Fat Tuesday
• Lone Palm Airport
• The Groove
• Red Coconut Club
• Citywalk’s Rising Star

Shopping:

• Quiet Flight Surf Shop
• Rock Shop
• Universal Studios Store
• Citywalk Hub Store
• The Smuggler’s Hold
• Candy Smith
• Hart & Huntington Tattoo Company

Hotels and Lodging

Let’s talk about hotels. Some people love staying on Universal grounds. Others say that it isn’t worth the money. My opinion, it depends on your preferences (and budget). Although reserving a room at a Universal resort is pricier than staying in one off-campus, it makes up for it in convenience. 

When you get tired after a long afternoon at the park, it is an extra perk to be able to go back to the hotel. And if you’re like me, taking a nap or lounging by the pool will give you the extra boost you need. That is, before exploring the park at night, when it glows with lights. Most of the resorts have restaurants, pools, fitness centers, and shops that make relaxing easier. Additionally, with all the money you’ll spend on transportation like a bus pass or Uber to get to the park, you might as well have booked the resort.

Loews Sapphire Falls Resort

The Loews Sapphire Falls Resort is where I stayed, which is on-campus. It had top notch amenities. There was a giant pool with a waterslide and hot tub on the side. It is completely kid-friendly with a maximum depth of 4 feet. Cabanas are for rent and bar huts and lounge chairs surround it. The fitness room is located near the pool by the ping-pong and billiard tables. Furthermore, they have Coca-Cola Freestyle stations in the pool area, which we will discuss later. It contains a huge lobby area with a little shop, fine-dining restaurant, and eatery. Central and helpful, the cavern-like spiral staircase leads to the pool area, restaurant, and water taxi. 

In addition to the hotel amenities, the Sapphire Falls Resort grants you early park admission, which begins at 8:00 am. A huge advantage, early access allows you to hit the popular rides in the morning before the off-campus guests and Florida residents arrive there. Your room key also can serve as a credit card. All you have to do is go to the front desk and load money to each room key. Then, you can pay for souvenirs and snacks with a simple swipe. Everything that you buy in the gift shops throughout the park can be delivered directly to your room free of charge upon request.

Transportation

Attracting convenience-seekers, the resort has a water taxi and walking trail. The water taxi will take you directly to the park in about five minutes on the canal that runs from the hotels to the park. In the heat of the day or after exhaustion, the water taxi is a nice alternative to the walking path.

However, in my experience during coronavirus, the water taxi was a more time-consuming option. After I got checked through security, I usually ended up waiting at least ten minutes to catch a ride. Due to the severe unemployment issue in Florida, there were not enough workers to operate the water taxis. Before I knew that, I assumed that the park just didn’t want to spend the money to operate more, since I saw about ten stationary water taxis on the other side of the canal. So, heads-up that the water taxi might not be as good of a perk as you may assume.

Taking only about fifteen minutes or less to get to the park, the walking trail is a valid option for beating the water taxi crowd that’s waiting. The narrow path weaves next to beautiful vegetation, giving you a nice view while walking. When following the signs back to the resort, be careful because there are arrows that say “Garden Walk,” which is a longer, more leisurely walk. If you just continue by the Loews Royal Pacific Resort transportation area to the other side of the trail or cross the street, you will find yourself at Sapphire Falls. At night, when you are tired from all the fun you had at the park, the last thing you’re going to feel like doing is walking, so you might want to check the water taxi line first.

Extras

Tip: As of July 2021, Universal no longer offers their special dining plan. And in my opinion, it is for the better.

1. Coca-Cola Freestyle

On a hot Florida day, one thing is on everyone’s mind: a cold drink. Luckily, there is a cheap, universal (wink-wink) item to quench your thirst. For 1 cup, it costs $16.99. For 2, it costs $15.99. If you buy 3-6 Coca-Cola freestyle souvenir cups, you only pay $12.99 each. Since the price decreases as you buy more cups, this is an awesome option for large groups. These cups can be refilled with soda or ICEE products at different kiosks across all four sections of Universal and even at some of the resorts. To reactivate your cup each day, you pay an additional $10.75. Considering that the price of these products can be $5 to $7 each time you buy them individually, this is an amazing deal. Even if you only refill your cup 2 or 3 times, you will have gotten your money back.

2. Universal Express Pass

One of the most overpriced packages at Universal, the Universal Express Pass is a complete rip-off. For a 1-park, 1-day pass that applies to select rides, you will pay $180 or more per person. At Volcano Bay, you can snag a pass for $20 a person, but it excludes some of the rides. Again, it is a waste of money. All you have to do is time it right or use early park admission, and you can ride all the rides you want to at a fraction of the price.

3. VIP Tour Experience

It promises skipping ride lines and getting exclusive behind-the-scenes tours, but the VIP treatment isn’t what it’s cracked up to be. As I passed the annoying tour guide, something dawned on me. Instead of listening to the “inside” information, the VIP’s could have been catching the best rides. Depending on which dates you are going to the parks, it can cost $450 or more. Considering all the other expenses that come with planning a trip to an amusement park, this is an unnecessary add-on. 

4. My Universal Photos

With three different packages, you can choose the one that best fits your needs. The cheapest, 1-day photo package at Volcano Bay is $40 per card. A 1-day package at the regular parks are $70 per card or $90 for a 3-day. Despite the perks of digital copies and a couple of free prints, you can take your own photos on your phone just as easy. Unlike Disney, Universal doesn’t have professional photographers and characters stationed everywhere. Therefore, it isn’t as great of a deal, unless you enjoy an excessive amount of unflattering ride photos.

Restaurants and Snack Shacks

Tip: Make reservations for the Universal City Walk restaurants weeks in advance. Surprisingly, you cannot just walk in, since they are booked up most days. Do your research in advance, and talk to your group about a plan for your meals. That is, unless you want to eat dinner at 10:30 p.m.

My Restaurant Ratings:

1. The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Creative as much as it is delicious, Cowfish provides a fusion of new, adventurous flavors. Combining burgers and sushi, they have created a niche concept that isn’t found in your average American town. When my family and I went there, we shared the crab rangoon dip, Doug’s filet roll (filet mignon in sushi–yum!), and Philly roll. The dip and the filet roll were the best. The Philly roll was average but wasn’t unique enough for me. If you want to try their burgers, sushi, and a little bit of each, the bento box can give you the best of both worlds. If there is one restaurant you have to try, Cowfish is that one. I would go back to Universal just to have it again. Seriously, it was that good.

2. New Dutch Trading Co.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

A convenient and reasonably priced place to eat, New Dutch Trading Co. was one of my go-to spots during my stay at Sapphire Falls. Perfect for a late-night snack, it provided me with an in-hotel eatery at the resort. Ranging anywhere from soups to sandwiches to salads to gelato to smoothies, they have tasty options for every palette. Additionally, New Dutch Trading Co. has pre-packaged snacks and on-the-go drinks for the swift traveler. I indulged in a smoothie, gelato, a vegan salad (which I do not recommend–sorry dieters!), empanadas, a warm sandwich, and mac and cheese. Out of all of them, I enjoyed the sandwich, gelato, and smoothie the most.

3. Hot Dog Hall of Fame

Rating: 3 out of 5.

On our first night at Universal, my family and I decided on Hot Dog Hall of Fame for dinner. Because, you guessed it, we didn’t make reservations at the other restaurants. So we did what anyone would do in such a pressing situation, we settled on hot dogs. Ordering Chicago dogs and two other kinds, we were colossally disappointed. Not only was the food expensive, it was less than mediocre. Now, maybe I’m just too used to real Chicago dogs with authentic, bright green relish, but I could’ve made a better one at home. With a five dollar bet on the table, one of my relatives downed the footlong bacon and cheese dog in one sitting. He won. However, the sickness that he felt afterward has caused him to avoid hot dogs ever since. Anyways, if you get in a bind, whatever you do, find a different fast option.

4. Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville

Rating: 2 out of 5.

Ugh. Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville. One word: disappointed. When you browse the menu at the restaurant, you get excited about everything they have to offer. And for me, the shrimp and grits (with bacon) caught my eye. After a long wait due to short staffing, I shoved a forkful of the dish into my mouth only to find bland splashes of zero flavor. The grits tasted cheap and chunky, like they were from the Dollar Tree. It was bad, and I’m not usually that picky about food. Similarly, the coconut shrimp were greasy and had to be drenched in sweet chili sauce for some tang. Amusing and ridiculous, a lady at the bar tripped on part of the floor that had a little lip. Security officers even came to get a report! Sitting at the bar, she flaunted her ice pack, animated about what you would’ve thought was a near-death experience.

My Snack Shack Ratings:

1. The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Well worth the price, the Chocolate Emporium has mouthwatering desserts, including French macarons, my personal favorite. The best flavors were Raspberry Black Tea and Salted Caramel. Outrageously creative, their milkshakes are elaborate works of delicious art. In addition to desserts, they have a separate restaurant.

2. Croissant Moon Bakery in Islands of Adventure

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Home to the best mocha triangle cake I have ever had, the Croissant Moon Bakery was another one of my favorite places for a sweet snack. Baked with care and skill, the pastries and desserts of the Croissant Moon Bakery had me coming back for more. For a lunch option, they have amazing oven-baked sandwiches. 

3. Butterbeer in Islands of Adventure

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Before you read this, you must know that I do not like Harry Potter. There, I said it. Despite the way I am completely disinterested in wizardry and fantasy, there is no denying the exquisite cream soda that is Butterbeer. For $8, you can get a small cup of creamy, carbonated Butterbeer. The slushy version is even better. What separates this beverage from its cream soda brothers and sisters is the velvety foam that is poured on top. Yum.

Thanks for reading! For more helpful travel information, go check out our “Top Ten Things to Do in Greece” article!