Let's take a moment to discuss Universal Parks - Orlando and Hollywood
Let's take a moment to discuss Universal Parks - Orlando and Hollywood
Any Harry Potter fans in the house? How about Minions or Transformers? Universal Parks offers the chance to step inside some of your favorite movies. Whether you are traveling to the Orlando or the Los Angeles/Anaheim area, there is an opportunity for you to experience more movie magic! Another reason to consider visiting, for the fifth year in a row, Universal’s Islands of Adventure is the TripAdvisor® Travelers’ Choice as the #1 Amusement Park in the World, 2015–2019
How long should you plan a Universal stay for?
In California, Universal Studios Hollywood offers one theme park. They don't have any onsite hotels, but there is a long list of partner hotels that you can build a package with. This park is open for shorter hours during the day and has a much smaller footprint than the parks over on the east coast - but it still packs a punch! I would recommend visiting 1-2 days, depending on the time of year and when you visit. If you are planning a trip to Disneyland, this park is about an hour away (give or take, depending on traffic). You could definitely build this into your existing Disneyland Vacation, or we could extend that vacation with a couple days near Universal and you could also see some of the other sights Los Angeles offers.
Over in Orlando, Universal offers two theme parks and a water park. To really enjoy all of what these parks have to offer, I would recommend 3 full days over there. If you are just looking for the Harry Potter Experience, you need to have a Park to Park ticket so that you can travel between Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios aboard the Hogwarts Express. This attraction is different in each direction, depending on if you are traveling from Diagon Alley to Hogsmeade, or vice versa. Universal Orlando offers 7 onsite hotels (with an 8th one opening in March 2020), with four categories from Value up to Premier. If you are wanting a full Orlando Universal experience added to your Walt Disney World vacation, I recommend doing a split stay and staying onsite at both locations to get the full experience and enjoy all of the amenities each has to offer. If you are flying into Orlando, we can arrange for transportation between your Disney Resort and Universal Resort and to the airport.
What does Universal have to offer for my family?
Universal is a great destination for families of all ages. Families with young children will enjoy Seuss Landing, Minion Mayhem and more! Did you know? Universal Orlando is the place you can meet the Transformers, Spider Man, Shrek & Donkey, Characters from The Simpsons and Dr. Seuss, Spongebob Squarepants, and more! For Jurassic World fans, you can even have an encounter with a Raptor!
Universal Hollywood is a working studio first, theme park second - that means that when you are onsite, there may be a television show or movie shooting! The Backlot tour takes you behind the scenes on some of the scenes, and you may get to see some of the action happening! Fans of Desperate Housewives will enjoy visiting Wisteria Lane. Going on the VIP tour takes you even further behind the scenes and you get to walk through the Prop warehouse!
A vacation package at Universal Orlando includes your park tickets and a stay at one of the 7 onsite hotels, or one of the many partner hotels in the area. If you are staying onsite, all Universal guests are welcome to use the amenities at each of the different hotels. Staying at Surfside, but want to spend the day poolside at the Hard Rock Hotel? No problem! Feel free to pool hop and enjoy all of the different experiences - even the bowling alley at Cabana Bay!
What other perks are available with a Universal package?
At Universal Orlando, if you opt to stay at one of the three Premier Resorts (Hard Rock Hotel, Loews Portofino Bay or Loews Royal Pacific) you get the Unlimited Express Pass included with your stay - from the day you Check in to the day you check out! That's a HUGE savings. That alone starts at about $89 per person per day - and the price goes up, depending on the season/ticket type. Also at Universal Orlando, if you are just purchasing tickets through me, you will get early entrance to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter - you won't get that if you are just purchasing tickets directly through Universal without an on-site stay.
Special events at Universal
Both Universal Studios Orlando and Hollywood offer Halloween Horror Nights, THE destination for scaring you at Halloween! Both parks offer 10 Haunted Houses sure to terrify you and keep you coming back. Both offer some of the same houses, and then they both offer houses that are unique to that park. The Hollywood park offers a Walking Dead house that is also available during the day time to guests there during regular park hours. Halloween Horror nights is a separately ticketed event, and not recommended for young children.
Mardi Gras is a family friendly event happening over at Universal Orlando and all of the activities are included with your park entrance! This event also includes headline concerts on Friday and Saturday nights, and some Sunday evenings. The Mardi Gras parade happens every night over at Universal Studios Orlando.
Grinchmas at Universal Orlando is anther Spectacular event - with a showing of Grinchmas daily - this is a broadway style show and not to miss! Seuss landing is taken over with the spirit of Grinchmas - and there is also a Grinchmas Character breakfast available too! Grinchmas is included with your park ticket (Grinchmas Character breakfast priced separately)
Movie experiences you may not have realized you could encounter at Universal Parks
There are so many characters and rides that take you inside the movies! Some of those experiences include: Kung Fu Panda, Secret Life of Pets, Madagascar, Transformers, Jurassic World, Minions/Despicable Me and more! Universal Orlando is also your Super Hero destination at Islands of Adventure with the Hulk coaster, Spiderman ride and more!
And let's not forget... Harry Potter!
Universal has really outdone themselves with their attention to detail in their areas dedicated to Harry Potter. The Hogwarts Castle (on both Coasts!) come alive with digital projections in the evenings for special events, and more. The shops and restaurants make you feel like you are inside the books experiencing what Harry and his classmates did. I am a fan of both the books and the movies - and I loved experiencing these parts of the parks. Shopping for chocolate frogs at Honeydukes and browsing through the love potions at the Weasley's Wizard Wheezes was a delight. If you aren't a big fan of the 3D motion simulator style rides, you can still walk through Hogwarts to experience the castle. It's worth the walk to see all of the hidden features inside.
Whether you want to do a Disney/Universal combo vacation, or visit Universal alone, there are lots of options to keep you and your family busy! Please contact me to look into what options work best for your family!
Any Harry Potter fans in the house? How about Minions or Transformers? Universal Parks offers the chance to step inside some of your favorite movies. Whether you are traveling to the Orlando or the Los Angeles/Anaheim area, there is an opportunity for you to experience more movie magic! Another reason to consider visiting, for the fifth year in a row, Universal’s Islands of Adventure is the TripAdvisor® Travelers’ Choice as the #1 Amusement Park in the World, 2015–2019
How long should you plan a Universal stay for?
In California, Universal Studios Hollywood offers one theme park. They don't have any onsite hotels, but there is a long list of partner hotels that you can build a package with. This park is open for shorter hours during the day and has a much smaller footprint than the parks over on the east coast - but it still packs a punch! I would recommend visiting 1-2 days, depending on the time of year and when you visit. If you are planning a trip to Disneyland, this park is about an hour away (give or take, depending on traffic). You could definitely build this into your existing Disneyland Vacation, or we could extend that vacation with a couple days near Universal and you could also see some of the other sights Los Angeles offers.
Over in Orlando, Universal offers two theme parks and a water park. To really enjoy all of what these parks have to offer, I would recommend 3 full days over there. If you are just looking for the Harry Potter Experience, you need to have a Park to Park ticket so that you can travel between Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios aboard the Hogwarts Express. This attraction is different in each direction, depending on if you are traveling from Diagon Alley to Hogsmeade, or vice versa. Universal Orlando offers 7 onsite hotels (with an 8th one opening in March 2020), with four categories from Value up to Premier. If you are wanting a full Orlando Universal experience added to your Walt Disney World vacation, I recommend doing a split stay and staying onsite at both locations to get the full experience and enjoy all of the amenities each has to offer. If you are flying into Orlando, we can arrange for transportation between your Disney Resort and Universal Resort and to the airport.
What does Universal have to offer for my family?
Universal is a great destination for families of all ages. Families with young children will enjoy Seuss Landing, Minion Mayhem and more! Did you know? Universal Orlando is the place you can meet the Transformers, Spider Man, Shrek & Donkey, Characters from The Simpsons and Dr. Seuss, Spongebob Squarepants, and more! For Jurassic World fans, you can even have an encounter with a Raptor!
Universal Hollywood is a working studio first, theme park second - that means that when you are onsite, there may be a television show or movie shooting! The Backlot tour takes you behind the scenes on some of the scenes, and you may get to see some of the action happening! Fans of Desperate Housewives will enjoy visiting Wisteria Lane. Going on the VIP tour takes you even further behind the scenes and you get to walk through the Prop warehouse!
A vacation package at Universal Orlando includes your park tickets and a stay at one of the 7 onsite hotels, or one of the many partner hotels in the area. If you are staying onsite, all Universal guests are welcome to use the amenities at each of the different hotels. Staying at Surfside, but want to spend the day poolside at the Hard Rock Hotel? No problem! Feel free to pool hop and enjoy all of the different experiences - even the bowling alley at Cabana Bay!
What other perks are available with a Universal package?
At Universal Orlando, if you opt to stay at one of the three Premier Resorts (Hard Rock Hotel, Loews Portofino Bay or Loews Royal Pacific) you get the Unlimited Express Pass included with your stay - from the day you Check in to the day you check out! That's a HUGE savings. That alone starts at about $89 per person per day - and the price goes up, depending on the season/ticket type. Also at Universal Orlando, if you are just purchasing tickets through me, you will get early entrance to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter - you won't get that if you are just purchasing tickets directly through Universal without an on-site stay.
Special events at Universal
Both Universal Studios Orlando and Hollywood offer Halloween Horror Nights, THE destination for scaring you at Halloween! Both parks offer 10 Haunted Houses sure to terrify you and keep you coming back. Both offer some of the same houses, and then they both offer houses that are unique to that park. The Hollywood park offers a Walking Dead house that is also available during the day time to guests there during regular park hours. Halloween Horror nights is a separately ticketed event, and not recommended for young children.
Mardi Gras is a family friendly event happening over at Universal Orlando and all of the activities are included with your park entrance! This event also includes headline concerts on Friday and Saturday nights, and some Sunday evenings. The Mardi Gras parade happens every night over at Universal Studios Orlando.
Grinchmas at Universal Orlando is anther Spectacular event - with a showing of Grinchmas daily - this is a broadway style show and not to miss! Seuss landing is taken over with the spirit of Grinchmas - and there is also a Grinchmas Character breakfast available too! Grinchmas is included with your park ticket (Grinchmas Character breakfast priced separately)
Movie experiences you may not have realized you could encounter at Universal Parks
There are so many characters and rides that take you inside the movies! Some of those experiences include: Kung Fu Panda, Secret Life of Pets, Madagascar, Transformers, Jurassic World, Minions/Despicable Me and more! Universal Orlando is also your Super Hero destination at Islands of Adventure with the Hulk coaster, Spiderman ride and more!
And let's not forget... Harry Potter!
Universal has really outdone themselves with their attention to detail in their areas dedicated to Harry Potter. The Hogwarts Castle (on both Coasts!) come alive with digital projections in the evenings for special events, and more. The shops and restaurants make you feel like you are inside the books experiencing what Harry and his classmates did. I am a fan of both the books and the movies - and I loved experiencing these parts of the parks. Shopping for chocolate frogs at Honeydukes and browsing through the love potions at the Weasley's Wizard Wheezes was a delight. If you aren't a big fan of the 3D motion simulator style rides, you can still walk through Hogwarts to experience the castle. It's worth the walk to see all of the hidden features inside.
Whether you want to do a Disney/Universal combo vacation, or visit Universal alone, there are lots of options to keep you and your family busy! Please contact me to look into what options work best for your family!
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