So… My family and I are heading out to Universal Studios Orlando Resort and since we’ve never been I really need your help in planning the trip. I know this is a little different than what you’re used to here on Tip Junkie – but I SCORED an insanely cool giveaway from Universal Orlando Resort that I’ll be givingaway next week! {squeal}
Um yes, IÂ’m totally bribing you to help me plan my trip. I really need your advice because we havenÂ’t been to a major theme park like this before and since thereÂ’s so much to do and see IÂ’m completely overwhelmed. Plus thanks to Universal Orlando Resort – two lucky winners are going to win a FABULOUS prize next week – so I promise itÂ’s worth helping a girl out. {knuckle bumps}
P.S. After you “submit” your info – the page will look gray. Just scroll up and you’ll be able to see the link to view the results if you’d like.
Thank you SO SO much!! Thanks to your help my boys are going to think IÂ’m the coolest mom, Evah! Stay tunedÂ… next week there 2 winners thanks to Universal Orlando Resort! {high fives}
P.S. If you want a tutorial on how to make a Universal Studios count down calendar, it’s over on the Tip Junkie Printables Site.
I wish I could be of more help, but haven’t been there since the park first opened!!! When we went they had maybe half of what they have now. We are dying to go again. All I can say is bring water bottles (you can refill in the park), sunscreen, and light clothes.
Have FUUUUUUUUUNNNNNNNNN! and hold on! weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
I was just there visiting my mom. We took my nephew and daughter to Universal…and can I tell you I just Loved, loved, loved the Wizarding World of Harry Potter! Please go on the ride there…it was amazing – especially if you like Harry Potter and the books, etc. I think they did an amazing job re-creating Hogwarts and the Hogsmeade. Enjoy!! I can’t wait to hear what fun you have!
Hello, glad to hear you are vactioning here. 🙂 I am a Native Floridian and I have worked at Disney and Universal and have Annual Passes to both. My recomendation is at Universal to get the back of the park first and move your way forward. Harry Potter gets crowded fast and so does the line for the butterbeer. You can buy the Universal Express Plus Pass which gets you to the front of the lines, really important during the summer since Florida is hot as hades. LOL Make sure you do what Rebecca mentioned because we do the same thing. Bring water and snacks, it will cut down on your food bill and water bill as well. They charge ridiculous prices on water and you will need a lot of it (again, Florida=Hot as Hades).
If it is cloudy use sunblock still. I have seen many tourists think ‘Oh it is cloudy I don’t need sunblock’ and then get a horrible burn from it and ruin the rest of their vacation.
They do have the Meal plans, like Disney and you have to really read it to make sure you are getting the most from it. Some of them include a snack or treat. For Islands of Adveture I like for breakfast the Crossaint Moon Bakery, for lunch or dinner the Confisco Grill and Backwater Bar and then Hop on Pop Ice-Cream Shop for dessert while you are in Islands of Adventure, they have made to order sundaes on a stick. You can also do the Islands of Adventure Character Breakfast for fun for the kids.
For the Studios, breakfast Beverly Hills Boulangerie and you can go back for lunch later too. You can also get lunch at Finnigans Irish Pub or Lombards Seafood Grille and dessert at, again I will say it, Beverly Hills Boulangerie.
For the City Walk area they have a Starbucks (if you are a coffee fiend like me lol), Burger King upstairs and my two favorite Emeril’s (a little pricey) and Jimmy Buffetts.
We actually went for our honeymoon this past September and loved it! Do not miss the new Harry Potter & Forbidden Journey ride (it wasn’t on the poll but its incredible). There is a show(?) called Poseidon’s Fury which I really love but its not a ride, more like a show. Also, the Three Broomsticks was cool, but I didn’t think that the food was super kid friendly. You can always just walk in and visit. We only tried the frozen Butterbeer, but it was perfect for a hot day!
Don’t forget they let you bring in backpacks and water bottles and snacks and have free lockers at the entrance to each ride if you get everything out within the allotted time (usually 30 minutes longer than the wait time). I’m sure two 20 somethings eating fruit snacks in lines looked lame, but it made waiting in line not so bad!
I can not wait to see the results! We want to take our boys there for our next big family trip! The boys are dying to go to Harry Potter (& me too)!