Universal Studios OrlandoMake the Most of Your Trip to Universal Studios!

My family and I are just back from a six day visit to Orlando, Florida.  This is the first vacation that we have taken since the creation of Busy Bee Lifestyle and of course, I looked at everything that we did and everywhere that we went with an eye to sharing my thoughts with our readers!  And so here goes, my first review of a popular vacation destination!

For years, we have been a tried and true “Disney” family, but having explored Disney Land and Disney World in the recent past, we decided to skip tradition and head to Universal Studios, Orlando.  In addition to a new location for our vacation, our family did things a little differently this time!

Combining Resort and Theme Park

Our initial plan was to fly to Florida on a Saturday and stay for four nights on the grounds at Universal.  After comparing airfares, my smart husband realized that if we flew out on Thursday evening, we could get a substantially cheaper rate – cheap enough that when divided by the five members of our family it allowed us to do the previously UNTHINKABLE!!  That is, start our “vacation” with a true vacation!  And so, we spent two nights at the Hyatt Grand Cypress Resort in Orlando, before entering the crazy world of theme parks! While at the Grand Cypress we enjoyed excellent guest services, slept late, lounged around the beautiful pool and dined at one of their fabulous restaurants, Hemingway’s.

Revitalized, on Saturday morning we took a cab to the Portofino Bay at Universal Studios, checked into this gorgeous hotel and THEN headed to the theme park!  Having already spent two nights in Florida, we weren’t changing clothes to match the climate, packing a tote bag to take into the park and so on, as we would have if we had flown in that morning.  We were ready to go!

Universal Studios - The Express Pass

Universal Studios is really two parks in one – Universal and Islands of Adventure, joined in the middle by City Walk, a fun collection of restaurants and shops. We QUICKLY discovered that the Express Pass, given only to guests of the three Universal hotels, made this experience completely unique!  There were Universal Express entrances for every attraction and show, with only one exception. No more waiting in lines for hours at a time, trying bravely to amuse your children or to keep them from tormenting each other!  No need to stress about getting back to the attraction at the exact time of a “fast pass.”  Universal created the perfect way to enjoy the park without the pain!  While regular park guests were waiting in excess of 60 minutes to enjoy a ride, holders of the Express Pass either walked right on or waited briefly!  And if your kids love a ride so much that they want to go on again, you can say okay!!  I cannot tell you how much pressure the Universal Express took off of our visit! 

Beautiful Hotel Settings

If you are interested in the fabulous benefits of staying on the Universal property, you can choose from three beautiful hotel settings.

  • The Portofino Bay replicates Portofino, Italy, in wonderful detail.  (Having been to Portofino, I can vouch for the authenticity!) .
  • The Hard Rock Hotel is filled with rock memorabilia and designed in a Spanish Mission style.
  • The Royal Pacific Resort has the feeling of a 1930’s luxury travel destination. 

Transportation to and from the Parks

One other aspect that we loved about Universal was the simple method of transportation to and from the parks.  Hotel guests travel to the parks on large water taxis, launched from piers adjacent to the hotels.  Fun rickshaws were also available.  In any event, walking was always a reasonable option!  No need to use buses, shuttles or trams, because everything is relatively nearby!

Making Restaurant Reservations

Having met up with family and friends, we visited the park with a group of 11!  In advance of our visit, I made several meal reservations at various restaurants, including a gourmet meal at Mythos (Islands of Adventure), Margaritaville (City Walk) and a character breakfast at Confisco Grille (Islands of Adventure).  Believe it or not, we did not wait even a minute to be seated at these meals!  Each one of these Universal restaurants was ready for us at the time of the reservation. 

A Final Note

Universal Studios is a great vacation destination!  Keep in mind that it is best for families with slightly older children, especially those tall enough to ride the Universal attractions. BUT, that being said, there are many cute and unique areas for young ones at Universal including the Suess Landing, Curious George and Barney attractions.  Try one of the lovely resort hotels and enjoy the benefits offered to hotel guests!

P.S. Don’t forget to pick up a great guide book to assist in your planning!  I used Universal Orlando by Kelly Monaghan in order to learn about the attractions, hotels and restaurants offered at Universal Studios!

P.P.S. If you purchase your park tickets online prior to your departure, you can save a substantial amount of money!  Hotels also honor a AAA discount.

I hope you have a fabulous trip!  Bon Voyage!

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