This past week, for our college spring break, my best friend Kayla and I decided to go to Universal Orlando to experience the best week of our lives. And, I have to say, we were not disappointed. From delicious yet affordable food to rockin’ roller coasters and colorfully themed buildings, we were in constant awe of the endless possibilities that Universal had to offer.
We stayed at Universal’s Cabana Bay resort, which is their newest hotel so far. It was decked out with '50s music, décor, dining, and even a bowling alley! There were two large pools that featured a water slide and bar area, perfect to grab some '50s eats and drinks! We stayed for four days, with a three-day park-to-park ticket, which allowed us to go to both of Universal’s parks back to back as much as we wanted to over the course of the three days.
It was a completely surreal experience, and, to date, my favorite vacation I have ever been on. Universal just makes you feel so happy and free, and, with multiple themes around the park, from superhero island to "Harry Potter" World and San Francisco, it doesn’t take much to bring a smile to your face and feel like a kid all over again. In light of my recent trip, here are 10 reasons why Universal Orlando is the best place for a wonderful, sunny weather vacation with family or a group of friends!
1. The Resorts
The resorts, no matter which of the five you stay at, are all completely unbelievable in the best of ways. With set themes and personalized décor for each hotel, this is the way to go when visiting this amazing theme park! Staying on-site allows you an hour early entry to the parks, as well as shuttles and private walkways that lead you right to CityWalk. I’ve stayed at both the Hard Rock Hotel and Cabana Bay and loved them both!
2. CityWalk
CityWalk is like the Boardwalk of Myrtle Beach. It has tons of dining options, like CowFish and Bubba Gump Shrimp (try the hush puppies!), as well as many shopping and night club areas. It’s right between the two parks, so it’s perfectly accessible after a long day at Universal when you’re ready to explore!
3. "Harry Potter" World and Diagon Alley
While the first "Harry Potter" setup, including Hogwarts and Hogsmeade, should be one of the classic seven wonders of the world, the new Diagon Alley setup definitely gives it a run for its money - especially when you factor in that it took over $250 million to construct. The new ride is a mix of roller coaster and 3D simulation, and I’m pretty sure my best friend and I rode it at least 10 times. We couldn’t get over the massive towering dragon and endless haunting shops that echoed with the magical music that played throughout the little town. It took us over an hour and a half to explore everything, it was that huge! The Hogwarts express, also a new ride, takes you between the two worlds (and parks!) and is definitely a must-see. You can even walk right through a brick wall to platform 9 ¾, just like real magic!
4. Superhero Island
Catchy music plays as soon as you walk into superhero island. The Hulk ride is awesome, shooting you forward from a stand still as you catapult through a tunnel. Easily one of the best rides in the park. The theme of this part of the park is, again, spectacular, and you must ride the Superman ride.
5. "Jurassic Park" River Ride
Easily my favorite ride in the park, next to "Harry Potter’s" Gringotts Vault Ride. You get to see dinosaurs that look totally real. My best friend and I were actually scared when posing next to a raptor for a picture - it didn’t like girls and kept trying to bite our ponytails. You can eat some yummy prehistoric grub here, get pictures with the "Jurassic Park" jeep, and even meet a real T-Rex!
6. Meeting All Of The Characters
Taking pictures with all of your favorite movie and TV characters is always the best. We met the crew of "Despicable Me," "SpongeBob," "Harry Potter," "Spiderman," and some other Marvel characters. What makes it even better is how funny the people inside the costumes can be. They really try to make themselves as real as possible and truly inspire the fun!
7. The Food
Amazing and affordable. We ate at Mythos in Islands of Adventure, where we got their specialty pizza and crab cake sandwiches. To live for. Seriously.
8. The Roller Coasters
What’s great about the parks is that, not only do they have the 3D simulation rides and theme-focused rides, but they also have great coasters as well. The Hulk ride is super awesome, as well as Dueling Dragons in the "Harry Potter" World and the Toon water ride. My favorite is the Rip Ride Rockit, because you get to listen to your choice of music while riding. How cool is that?
9. The 3-D Simulation Rides
The absolute best. The "Harry Potter" and "Transformers" ones are my favorites.
Wait no, the "Spiderman" ride.
No, "Despicable Me."
Ugh, I can’t choose. They’re all awesome. Every time I got in line for the "Harry Potter" one I cried because I was so excited... I wish I was joking.
10. Endless Amounts Of Fun!
Universal Orlando literally has everything you could ever dream of wanting in a theme park that is a great vacation for both family and friends. Easy access on-site resorts, yummy foods from around the world, fast water rides, zooming coasters, 3D sensations, and meet and greets with all of your favorite movie characters. What more could anyone want?
I don’t know about you, but I’m already planning my next visit!
