5 Things I LOVE About Universal Orlando | Heather Bowman - Sojourney Travel

I wasn’t expecting to love Universal Orlando as much as I did. Here are five reasons why a Universal vacation will blow your mind.  

Price Point 

I discovered that I could experience Universal Orlando for far less than their nearby competitors. Like almost half the cost and twice the amenities. Not kidding.  

Centrality 

One thing I loved about Universal was not having to stand in line and wait for a bus to take me from park to park. No wasted time on transportation. Universal Studios and Universal’s Islands of Adventure are side by side. You can walk through CityWalk to get from one to the other, or you could take the Hogwart’s Express if you have a park-to-park ticket, which I totally recommend.  

Accommodations 

Even their value resorts have gorgeous, spacious rooms and great amenities! Their basic rooms are far superior to other resorts in the area. I stayed at a resort just above the value level and my resort had its own bowling alley and a lazy river! Their premier properties are a great value and have incredible benefits as well. For example, if you stay at a premier property, your express pass is included when you purchase theme park tickets! That is hundreds of dollars in savings, so it really does make it worth it to upgrade to a premier property. Also, premier properties have transportation to CityWalk and theme parks by boat - no overcrowded bus, no traffic, a great way to travel!  

All Things Harry Potter

Okay, I am not a complete Potterhead, but I still geeked out when it came to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. I have read the books, and I was thrilled to see how “by the book” these lands were. In fact, a Universal employee told me that if it’s not in the book, it’s not in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. That includes food, so the only food they have is what is in Harry Potter. The Hogwarts Express, Hagrid’s Motorbike, and the fire breath dragon at Gringott’s were probably my favorite attractions.  

CityWalk and Resort Dining

There is so much to do at CityWalk. From live entertainment to shopping, to incredible food, CityWalk has it all in one location. Cowfish is a must try; in my wildest dreams I never thought I would love a sushi burger bar as much as I do. And while CityWalk has fabulous food options, so do the Universal Orlando resorts. Aventura has a great rooftop restaurant and bar, Loews Portofino has some incredible Italian dining, and Hard Rock has The Palm. Even if you are not staying at those resorts, you can still check out their restaurants, so don’t miss them! 

Universal Orlando completely surprised me by all it had to offer. And now it has Super Nintendo World! My inner child is begging to go back. If you are vacationing in the Orlando area, you need to put Universal at the top of your list. You won’t be disappointed.