9 3/4 Facts You Need To Know BEFORE your Universal Orlando Vacation
And maybe, if you’re a Universal Studios veteran, you might find some new nuggets of information.
1. There are 3 Universal Orlando parks
A. Universal Studios
B. Islands of Adventure
C. Islands of adventure
Bonus – City Walk
2. Hotels – Onsite
Prime Hotels – $$
– Universal’s Aventure Hotel
– Universal’s Aventure Hotel
– Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort
Preferred Hotels – $$$
– Loews Sapphire Falls Resort
Premier Hotels – $$$$
– Loews Royal Pacific Resort
– Hard Rock Hotel
– Loews Portofino Bay Hotel
Coming Soon:
Value Hotels – $
– Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Surfside Inn and Suites (opening June 27, 2019)
– Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Dockside Inn and Suites (opening May 2020)
– Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Surfside Inn and Suites (opening June 27, 2019)
– Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Dockside Inn and Suites (opening May 2020)
3. Universal Orlando Resorts Onsite Bonus
Each onsite hotel offers amazing perks. Each hotel offers free park transportation (either by bus, some hotels offers ferry transportation and each hotel is walking distance to the parks). These hotels also have TONS of food options, including Starbucks. They have pools (some have lazy rivers – I’m looking at you Cabana Bay). The hotels are amusement parks in themselves.
Universal’s Avenutra
Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort Hotel
Loews Sapphire Falls Resort
Early park access to the exciting world of Harry Potter and volcano bay. You’re allowed 1 hour earlier to these select locations before the park opens to the public.
Also with your stay at the cabana bay beach resort you’re allowed one hour earlier to exciting world of Harry Potter and volcano bay.
Also with your stay at the lowes Sapphire Falls Resort you’re allowed one hour earlier to excisting world of Harry Potter and volcano bay.
Loews Royal Pacific Resort
Hard Rock Hotel
Loews Portfolio Bay Hotel
With your stay at The Loews Royal Pacific Resort you will receive a free Universal Express Unlimited which allows you to skkp the regular ride line on ride select in Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. This is a $129 value. Please note I have seen wait lines up to 2 hours sometimes especially newer rides such as King Kong and Minions.
As a Loews Royal Paciific Resort guest you are also granted 1 hour early access to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Volcano Bay.
4. Park hours (as of time of this posting)
Universal Studios Florida™
9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Universal’s Islands of Adventure™
9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Universal’s Volcano Bay™
10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Universal CityWalk™
Open Until 2:00 AM Every Day*
Universal Orlando Resort™ Is Open 365 Days A Year^
5. Where is Harry Potter?
- The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is located in both Universal Studios AND Islands of Adventures with the Hogwarts Express connected both sectionds.
- Noteworthy: You can only ride the Hogwarts Express with a Annual Pass or park to park admission ticket.
- Universal Studios houses the Long waterfront which includes Diagon Alley.
- Islands of Adventure includes Hogsmeade Village and the breathtaking Hogwarts Castle.
6. What is City Walk?
- City Walk is an outdoor shopping, dining and entertainment complex which you must walk through to get to any of the Universal parks. City Walk has a movie theater, a mini golf course, tattoo shop, plenty of bars, clubs and restaurants. One of my fave City Walk hot spots of Voodoo Donuts.
7. Universal Studios Resort Pet-Friendly Hotels
- Loews Sapphire Falls Resort
- Loews Portofino Bay Hotel
- Hard Rock Hotel
8. How to buy tickets?
- You can buy park tickets, make hotel reservations and buy Blue Man Group tickets online at https://www.universalorlando.com.
- You can also purchase your tickets via phone at 407-224-4233
- Lastly, you can purchase tickets at the actual park.
- Book as soon as possible to secure the best rate.
9. What’s the perfect time of year to go to Universal Orlando?
- Orlando, FL is in Florida. Florida is hot. However, it can get very cold in the winter as well.
- My fave time to go to Universal is anytime.
- However, I do like a cooler time of year like January or February.
- I’ll be going during the Summer months but I’m going to boil. And I’m mentally prepared for that. 🙂
