My amazing week at Universal Studios, Orlando
I visited this June with a group of 27 other travel agents, staying at the luxurious Loews Sapphires Falls which is one of the fabulous Universal Resorts properties. Universal have a real variety of hotel styles from the great value 50’s motel style of Cabana Bay, the island escape of the Loews Royal Pacific and the ultra-cool Rockstar Hard Rock hotel there really is something to suit every taste.
Most Universal hotels offer express tickets to give you early entry to the parks and a chance to see the parks at a more leisurely pace during peak dates. Each hotel comes with its own story behind it which the staff are only too eager to tell you - be sure to ask about Jake’s plane outside the Loews Royal Pacific.
This trip was a jam packed 6 nights exploring Universal's varied accommodations & all the brilliant rides and attractions of Universal Studios - including Harry Potter World!
We had the full tour and went on almost every ride, my personal favourites were the Revenge of the Mummy, Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon & the white-knuckle Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit!
We were so lucky to get the full ’VIP Experience during our time at Universal Studios, if your budget permits I would highly recommend this VIP upgrade. You wouldn't believe how fast you get on to the rides, taking back door shortcuts, hearing all the stories behind the rides and being whizzed straight to the front of the queue was a real luxury. A definite must for those short of time, or patience!
We also opted for the Universal Dining Plan which was so stress-free, it offered flexibility and choice across many restaurant choices and food stands across the park. It was fantastic value and a must for families on a budget, the snacks and meal portions were very generous… just check out the size of my ‘snack’ donut at Moe’s Tavern!
There are so many highlights but my favourite part of the trip was 100% seeing Harry Potter world up close. Having never read the books or seen the films I initially felt I might not 'get it'. Within two minutes of walking into the famous Diagon Alley I was greeted by the fire breathing dragon and a magical little man who waved his wand at me then called me a muggle - I immediately felt like a kid again. This place is so magical and interactive for children of all ages - including big ones like me!
I particularly enjoyed our day at the new Volcano Bay waterpark, the slides and general feel of the park was relaxed. The whole day was made easier by the ‘Tapu Tapu’ wristband which allowed you to virtually queue and come back to each of the rides when it was your turn to ride.
For night-time entertainment 'The Blue Man' group is a real family affair of music, lights and imagery plus and a little dance off at the end!
Whilst our days were busy exploring the parks our evenings were a real contrast, hopping on the complimentary water taxi from our hotel along the pretty waterway to City Walk was easy and enjoyable. This can also be done as a leisurely 15 mins walk, if you are keen to feel you have earned your dessert!
There is a wide selection of restaurant and bar choices along CityWalk, as a vegetarian travelling is often a struggle but I found dining easy here - the portion sizes are not for the fainthearted though!
My favourite meal of the trip was at The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar. Billed as surf and turf meets burger you would assume a vegetarian might struggle. I was so impressed with the variety and in the end opted for a bowl of the fried pickles and the delicious Treehugger Roll washed down with a chilled Margarita.
Dinner and drinks on CityWalk were a similar price bracket to London with starters being $7-10/main courses between $12-15, do however bear in mind the portion sizes are big so sharing is absolutely possible.
I was a little naughty on this trip and only brought back a key ring souvenir for my dad, instead I saved all my pennies for the brilliant shopping at the Premium Outlet Mall and the Florida Mall on route back to the airport. For the designer junkies amongst you the savings really are huge and I would recommend taking a few extra dollars for these stops.
A car hire would be recommended for families with luggage wanting to split their stay with Disney/Miami or the beaches a little drive away, equally Uber taxis are freely available and very reasonably priced.
I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at Universal and would highly recommend it to playful couples of all ages and families alike. Should you ever need any pointers please don’t hesitate to get in touch, I would love to help!