I love the Universal parks. I have so many fond memories of days out here when I was younger. Sitting here writing this blog reminds of the old classic rides such as Back to the future, Jaws, Twister and Kong, and shows such as Beetlejuice. Although they are not there now, they have been replaced by some incredible new attractions. Think of a brilliant movie or TV show and its likely to be within these parks.
UNIVERSAL EXPLORER TICKET
There are 2 ticket options for the Universal parks. Either the 2 or 3 park Explorer ticket. Often, they are on offer at 3 parks for the price of 2 too. The 3 park ticket provides access to Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and Volcano Bay. The 2 park ticket does not include the waterpark Volcano Bay. Both ticket types are valid for 14 days, so they will go live the first time you use them at the park gate. The 14 days will then run consecutively so that whilst the ticket is ‘live’, you can visit the parks as many times as you like. You do not have to visit them on consecutive days. Often, just going 3 times is cheaper than buying a 3 day ticket at the park gates. You can also park hop as much as you like too. You could start your day in Volcano Bay, head out for lunch, and then pop back into Universal Studios for the evening. This shows what good value they are.
THE UNIVERSAL PARKS INCLUDED
Universal Studios: this is the number one movie and TV based theme park in the world. It really is full of some incredible attractions. You can enter The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ - Diagon Alley™ and will feel as though you have quite literally stepped into the movie, plus you can climb aboard an indoor coaster to experience Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts™. For the adrenaline junkies, join forces with the Transformers as you find yourself right in the middle of the action in 3-D, or Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit an incredible coaster that starts by climbing straight toward the sky at a 90-degree angle and of course Revenge of the Mummy which is an indoor coaster (with a twist!) For the young at heart, encounter mischievous Minions on Despicable Me Minion Mayhem a fun 3-D ride , crash through Krustyland with The Simpsons™ , and of course no day to Universal Studios is complete without saying hello to ET on your own bike ride. These parks are always adding new attractions and so the latest are Fast and Furious Supercharged where you will also get to see actual movie props and the Bourne Stuntacular – a stunt show to make you feel as though you are watching a scene of the film being made in front of your eyes.
Islands of Adventure: Voted #1 amusement park in the World 5 years in a row by TripAdvsor Travelers Choice awards, I totally understand why. It has some my favourite rides here. This was the start of the Harry Potter craze when The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ - Hogsmeade™ was built a few years ago. Hogwarts Castle is jaw-dropping and inside you will find Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™ - this amazing attraction uses ground-breaking technology (and a little magic) to create a one-of-a-kind ride experience. Islands of Adventure is where you will also find the characters from Marvel, such as The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man® a 3-D ride like no other, and The Incredible Hulk Coaster® my all-time winner as the super powered launch at the start is the best feeling ever! We also have some dinosaur fans in this house so another reason I am desperate to get back to show my eldest Bethany the Jurassic Park River Adventure – a thrilling river raft adventure. There are a few new additions since my last visit such as Skull Island: Reign of Kong, I am so excited to try this as I so miss the old Kong ride, they had at Universal Studios. And coming Summer 2021 Jurassic World VelociCoaster - A New Species of Roller Coaster!!! I have no idea what this means but I cannot wait to find out!
Hogwarts Express – I just need to mention this separately. There is a train station in both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure that has the Hogwarts Express running between both parks which makes park hopping a lot of fun. The ‘scenes’ you will see on the train are different both ways so its worth experiencing both if you can. You do need a ticket such as the Explorer ticket to allow you to use this train as much as you like too.
Volcano Bay: I have not yet been to Volcano Bay since it opened! But it sounds like it is a brilliant water park which I would expect from Universal. When Wet n Wild closed a couple of years ago, I was excited to hear all about this park. Using technology not used in any other water park, a TapuTapu wristband, which you can tap at an attraction that will virtually queue for you to save you time in the parks and alert when you can walk right to the front! My kind of queueing!! There are 19 attractions to check out such as Krakatau™ Aqua Coaster, a 4 person slide within the iconic volcano itself and Kala & Tai Nui Serpentine Body Slides™ where twin drop doors simultaneously and plunge two guests down clear, intertwining tubes above the volcano (YIKES). Plus for the more laid back there is Kopiko Wai Winding River™ to take in the tropic landscape around you, Runamukka Reef™ a water play area for the family and Punga Racers™ which sends single riders on their manta ray mats sliding down four lanes through underwater sea cave. It sounds like a brilliant day out!
WHAT ELSE IS INCLUDED
Access to Citywalk is included. Once you park your car at Universal Resort, you will walk through CityWalk to access the theme parks. Within CityWalk there are multiple shops, restaurants, and bars for you to access. There is often live entertainment too. With your ticket you can access all these but if they ever run a separate ticketed event then of course these require admission too.
By showing your ticket you often do not get charged the fee to enter a bar such as Rising Star - this is a fantastic karaoke experience with a live band and backing singers or Pat O Brien’s, a bar that has two men playing piano to any song you request, and I mean ANY!
There are heaps of restaurants for you to choose from, you could nip out the parks for lunch or head here for dinner. They have venues such as Margaritaville for a tropic vibe, Bubba Gump Shrimp (From Forrest Gump) for the best coconut shrimp ever, Hard Rock café for classics like burgers, ribs and steak, Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar which is so different and so good and of course Toothsome Chocolate Emporium with gourmet chocolates and one-of-a-kind desserts, ranging from artisanal milkshakes to sumptuous sundaes. Flavours like Chocolate Brownie Bark, Bacon Brittle and Salted Caramel Flan to name a few.
The large Universal store is great to pick up any momentos you may have missed grabbing whilst in the parks, and Quiet Flight is our favourite. A surf shop to grab hoodies, t shirts, flip flops and sunglasses – after all, you cannot go all the way to Florida and not do some shopping right!!
WHATS NOT INCLUDED
Within CityWalk there are other entertainment complexes such as Cinemark and Hollywood Drive-In Golf (mini golf). These do cost extra to do just like any other mini golf/cinema would charge entry too.
Parking costs from around $26 per day. Parking is free after 6pm (except on Halloween Horror Nights or other event nights).
Universal run events such as Halloween Horror Nights and these are not included on the standard ticket. You can purchase the event tickets separately on top of your standard admission tickets though. I have experienced this event and it was worth every penny. The park completely transforms from day to night like you would not believe, with houses to enter based on scary movie classics, cult favorite characters roaming the park or having to face your fears being unleashed, it’s a frightening, adrenaline pumping, and I can’t believe I say this but brilliant night!!! I was so petrified the first time I went but it so incredibly clever the way it is designed, I was more in awe of the way it was all done. Plus, there are special shows for these evenings only and select rides that remain open to do in the dark! Tickets are on sale in the UK around March for the year the event is running. See links below.
To enhance your day in the theme parks, you could purchase Express passes. These can be purchased in advance (see link below) or on the day. Buying in advance means it won’t affect your spending money and buying on the day is subject to availability too. There is a choice of Universal Orlando Express Passes:
Universal Express - Enjoy one-time Express Access to each participating ride and attraction at Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure.
Universal Express Unlimited - Upgrade to Universal Express Unlimited and enjoy unrestricted skip-the-regular-line access to participating rides and attractions at Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure throughout the day.
Plus, there is a choice between a 1-Park ticket for use at either Universal Studios Florida or Universal’s Islands of Adventure or a 2-Park Ticket that can be used at both Universal theme parks on the same day. All Express Passes are valid for one day only.
WHERE TO BOOK
I would highly recommend booking with AttractionTickets.com for quite a few and important reasons.
1 – They are the UKs number 1 ticket reseller.
2 – They are bound by ABTA which is always good to know, especially when booking hotels and tickets together.
3 – They have won multiple awards in the travel industry such as Travolution Awards and British Travel Awards numerous times. This year they also won Travolution’s Brand of the Year for 2020.
4 – Founded in 2002 and served well over 4 million customers, with a high repeat business rate that is always reassuring.
5 – Can pay with a deposit to secure your tickets and then pay off your balance online as you wish up until the balance due date – great for spreading out the cost of those tickets!
6 – Real tickets are sent to you. Not vouchers that you will need to queue up and exchange at the park gates on arrival (this can be anywhere up to an hour to do so).
7 – Always cheaper to pre buy one of the UK multi park tickets vs single day tickets when in Florida.
8 – The team are very friendly and full of so much knowledge, you will feel rest assured you are booking the right tickets and in safe hands!
Click here for more information on the 2 park Explorer ticket:
Click here for more information on the 3 park Explorer ticket:
Click here for general information on Universal Orlando Resort: https://www.attractiontickets.com/en/orlando-attraction-tickets/universal-orlando-resort?utm_source=TheWalterWays&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=blog
As always, I hope you have found this blog helpful and always shout with any questions you may have. Next blog….SeaWorld Parks 😊
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