Universal Orlando has expanded its offerings with new attractions, theme parks, and hotels in the last six years. With new additions like Epic Universe (the first theme park to open in the Orlando area in nearly 25 years), added perks for staying on property, a lively shopping and entertainment district, and an immersive water park, Universal Orlando is now a multi-day destination. If you’ve done Disney and are looking to experience something new, there’s never been a better time to visit “the other park.” As an Authorized Universal Travel Agency, we’ve seen these updates and changes firsthand, and personally attest that Universal has upped its game, making it a can’t-miss vacation destination for your next Orlando trip. Here’s why we love taking Universal vacations, and we know you will too!
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Transportation Ease
Getting around Universal Orlando is super convenient. There are three primary transportation methods: walking paths, water taxis, and shuttle buses. Many of the hotels are within walking distance of CityWalk, Universal Studios, and Islands of Adventure. Universal Helios Grand Hotel is so close to Epic Universe that it even has its own dedicated theme park entrance and is fully integrated into the park’s theming. Water taxis are available from four of Universal’s Signature Collection hotels: Loews Portofino Bay, Loews Sapphire Falls, Hard Rock Hotel, and Royal Pacific. All Universal hotels offer complimentary shuttle buses to CityWalk, Epic Universe, and Volcano Bay.
The transportation system is straightforward, without a confusing network of transportation methods, exchanges, and bus stops that can suck hours out of your day. Most hotels are a quick 10-15 minute walk, shuttle, or water taxi ride from the parks, making it easy to travel between your resort and the parks or to take a midday break at your hotel without paying a premium. Plus, security for Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure is located at the entrance of CityWalk, so you only need to go through security once if you’re moving from park to park.
A Simple Way To Skip Attraction Lines
Unlike other multi-tiered systems that require early wake-ups to book ride reservations before your trip, manage arrival windows, and constantly check your phone, Universal’s Express Pass system doesn’t require any advanced booking. Once you get the pass, you simply walk up to the attraction queue whenever you feel like it and get into the Express Lane. With a standard Express Pass, you can visit each attraction once per day. With the Unlimited Pass, you can visit each attraction as many times as you want. That’s it! This offers a stress-free day that brings you back to vacations of years past, before smartphones and apps. We love this carefree approach to line-skipping services.
Awesome Resort Benefits
Universal offers a wide range of valuable perks for Universal Resort guests that help you enjoy the parks, save time, and make traveling easier. Here are some of the benefits of staying at a Universal Hotel:
Early Park Admission
One of the best perks of staying onsite at a Universal resort is the ability to enter one of the theme parks one hour early each day, including Volcano Bay. Some of the park’s most popular attractions and themed experiences are open during this time, whether you want to hop in line for the Veliocoaster or simply take a stroll through Hogsmeade without the midday crowds. Available attractions and parks rotate each month, so be sure to check the Early Park Admission attractions list before your arrival. Getting into the parks an hour early feels like a true VIP experience, just for staying at a Universal Resort!
Complimentary Express Unlimited Passes (Select Resorts)
If you decide to stay at one of Universal’s Signature Collection Resorts, you’ll receive free Universal Express Unlimited Passes every day, including your check-in and check-out dates. These passes are available to all guests who stay at Loews Portofino Bay, Hard Rock Hotel, Loews Royal Pacific, Loews Sapphire Falls, and Universal Helios Grand Hotel. These passes let you skip attraction lines as often as you want throughout the day, so you can get to the front of the line faster and enjoy your favorite rides multiple times.
Merchandise Delivery
No need to lug all your souvenirs around with you all day. Just ask for your purchases to be sent to your hotel room when you check out, and they’ll be delivered by the next day.
Upgraded Amenities at Every Tier
Guests at Universal Resorts can enjoy a wide range of experiences and amenities, regardless of what resort tier you choose. For example, Cabana Bay Beach Resort is one of the most affordable resorts at Universal and falls within its lowest pricing tier. However, it has tons of amenities, including a resort-style pool with a lazy river and a water slide, as well as convenient walking paths to Volcano Bay and CityWalk. It also offers a wide range of restaurants and lounges. In contrast, the lowest-tier resorts at Disney are farther from the parks and offer only basic on-site amenities.
Thrill Playground For The Whole Family
Universal packs the thrills in the Orlando area, with many attractions appealing to tweens, teens, and adults. The parks are filled with large thrill coasters like the VelociCoaster, the Incredible Hulk, and Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure. There are also highly immersive rides geared toward older audiences, like Transformers, Jurassic Park, and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™. There are plenty of spots for little ones to interact with characters they know and love, too, like Trolls and Kung Fu Panda in the newly renovated DreamWorks Land. There are also tons of experiences everyone in the family will enjoy, like the attractions at Super Nintendo World. Adults will love nostalgic nods to cult classics like E.T., Jaws, and Back to the Future throughout the parks. Plus, if you’re a Harry Potter fan, Universal is the place to be on this side of the Atlantic.
Spontaneous Adventures
When you visit Universal, your days feel less planned and more relaxed from the moment you enter. The flexible nature of Express Passes means you won’t be glued to your phone all day trying to modify arrival windows or book dining. The resort’s tight-knit layout makes it easy to hop between the parks and your hotel room, which is invaluable when traveling with little kids. Universal has a much more laid-back approach to dining, allowing you to make reservations as you wish up to 180 days in advance, with plenty of availability in the days leading up to your trip. While lines can get long and there are definitely attractions you’ll want to ride first, the overall atmosphere is more laid-back and less rushed than when visiting other theme parks like Disney. There are also many chances to run into unique characters roaming through the parks. You could catch the Blues Brothers leading a mid-street dance party, run into Marilyn Monroe, take a pic with retro comic strip characters like Popeye and Olive Oyl, or catch a glimpse of some exchange students from the Wizarding World.
Plan Your Universal Vacation With Wishing On A Star Travel®
Thanks to incredible benefits, enhanced experiences, and new additions arriving every year, now’s the perfect time to book your Universal getaway! Wishing On A Star Travel is an Authorized Universal Travel Agency, so we know the ins and outs of planning a Universal vacation. Contact us today to get started planning your next Universal vacation or add on some Universal days to an existing trip. Or, get a quote here to get started.
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