By Juliana Octavini
The Universal Orlando Resort is Orlando's second largest entertainment complex, only losing to Walt Disney World.
For those who enjoy cinema, especially, it is a full dish, as its parks offer an immersive experience with attractions based on successful movies and popular American TV programs.
But make no mistake. Unlike Disney, where attractions were designed for the whole family and, therefore, toys are not so radical, Universal parks already have breathtaking attractions!
Universal Studio Resort features the Citywalk, two amusement parks (Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios), in addition to a water park, the Volcano Bay.
I recommend, during your visit, to separate at least one day for each of the parks, so that you can make the most of your attractions!
In this post, I want to talk a little bit about each of them for you!
Citywalk
For you to have access to each of the resort's amusement parks, you need to access Citywalk, a shopping center that brings together shops, restaurants and bars, ideal for those who love a ballad!
At Citywalk you will find famous restaurants like Hard Rock – the largest in the world, by way, with two floors and an area for concerts! -, Bubba Gump Shrimp (all inspired by Forest Gump movie), the Authentic Mexican Food Antojitos and Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Fest Kitchen (where you get the feeling of being inside the Fantastic Chocolate Factory of Willy Wonka).
The centre is an entertainment complex for all tastes, worth exploring!
Universal Studios Florida
Universal Studios Florida is the original theme park of Universal Orlando Resort, opened in 1990. More focused on teenagers and adults seeking adventure, it offers a unique experience for those who enjoy cinema with various attractions that resemble movie scenarios and recording sets.
The park is divided into the following areas: Production Central, New York, San Francisco, Woody Woodpecker’s Kidzone, Hollywood and The Wizard World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley.
Production Central:
This area is the main entrance of the park and is dedicated to the entertainment world. Here you will find the iconic Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, a high-speed roller coaster where passengers can choose their own soundtrack to accompany adrenaline. In addition, the area hosts the Despicable Me Minion Mayhem attraction, where fans can join the lovely Minions in a 3D adventure.
New York:
Inspired by New York City, this area recreates iconic Big Apple scenarios. One of the main attractions here is The Revenge of the Mummy, a film-themed roller coaster that takes visitors on an exciting journey through the corridors of an ancient Egyptian haunted temple, which I particularly love this attraction!
San Francisco:
This area brings the charm of San Francisco city to Universal Studios Florida. One of the most popular attractions is Fast & Furious - Supercharged, an immersive experience that puts visitors in the middle of action in a high-speed race alongside the Fast & Furious family.
Woody Woodpecker’s Kidzone:
Designed especially for children, this area offers family attractions and meetings with favorite characters. Highlights include the Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster children's roller coaster, the Curious George Goes to Town interactive water park and the Fievel's Playland recreation area.
Hollywood:
This area honors the mecca of entertainment, Hollywood. Visitors can enjoy attractions like The Simpsons Ride, an exciting journey through Springfield City with the most famous yellow family on television, and the Universal's Horror Make-Up Show, an interactive show that reveals the secrets of special effects in horror movies.
The Wizard World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley:
This area takes visitors to the magical world of Harry Potter, specifically to the lively commercial alley of Diagon Alley. Here fans can experience the exciting 3D roller coaster Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, shop at the Ollivanders wand shop, sip a buttery beer at The Leaky Cauldron and more.
These are just some of the main attractions found in each of these Universal Studios Florida areas. Each offers a unique and exciting experience, in which I am sure you will love it!
Islands of Adventure
The Islands of Adventure is the second theme park of the Universal Orlando Resort, opened in 1999. He is known for his theme of adventure and offers exciting experiences for the whole family, including attractions for young children!
The park is also divided into thematic areas: Marvel Super Hero Island, Toon Lagoon, Skull Island, Jurassic Park, The Wizard World of Harry Potter – Hogsmead.
Marvel Super Hero Island:
This area is dedicated to Marvel Comics iconic superheroes. Some of the attractions include:
- The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man: An exciting 3D journey with Spider-Man, where visitors face dangerous villains.
- The Incredible Hulk Coaster: A high-speed roller coaster that launches passengers with the force of a giant green rocket launcher.
Toon Lagoon:
Inspired by classic comics, this area is full of fun and humor. Some of the attractions include:
- Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls: An exciting water attraction with an exciting fall, based on the Dudley Do-Right cartoon character.
- What? Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges: A water ride full of adventures with the classic Popeye characters.
Skull Island: Reign of Kong:
In this area, visitors enter the mysterious and dangerous jungle of Skull Island. The main attraction is:
- Skull Island: Reign of Kong: An exciting adventure in a 4x4 vehicle where visitors meet prehistoric creatures and the fearsome Kong. Seriously, don't miss it, because it's awesome!
Jurassic Park:
This area is a recreation of the prehistoric world of dinosaurs. Some of the attractions include:
- Jurassic Park River Adventure: An exciting boat journey through the world of dinosaurs, culminating in an exciting fall.
- Pteranodon Flyers: An aerial tour that offers a panoramic view of the park area.
Jurassic World VelociCoaster: the park's newest attraction opened in June 2021. It is a roller coaster that reaches 47 meters high and reaches up to 112 km/h! Who was it, ensures it is one of the best roller coasters in Orlando (I didn't have the courage! kkkk).
The Wizard World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade:
This area takes visitors to the magical world of Harry Potter, specifically to the village of Hogsmeade. Some of the attractions include:
- Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey: A magical journey through Hogwarts Castle with 3D effects and flight simulation.
- Flight of the Hippogriff: A gentle roller coaster that flies over the Hogsmeade grounds.
Volcano Bay
Universal's Volcano Bay is the latest water park at Universal Orlando Resort, opened in 2017. It offers you a delicious experience that plans to travel during the American summer period.
The main attractions of the park are:
- Krakatau Aqua Coaster: An exciting aquatic roller coaster ride that passes through the iconic Krakatau volcano.
- Waturi Beach: A white sand beach with relaxing wave pools.
- Honu ika Moana: An exciting float attraction that slides through the waves.
- Ko'okiri Body Plunge: A vertiginous free fall from the top of the Krakatau volcano.
- What? And a variety of other aquatic attractions and relaxation areas.
At Volcano Bay, visitors receive a TapuTapu bracelet that allows them to book virtual queues for attractions, as well as unlock interactive experiences throughout the park. In addition, you can rent private cabins to enjoy an exclusive space with amenities such as towels, refrigerators and food and drink services while having fun.
Universal Studios Resort parks in Orlando offer an incredible variety of experiences for visitors of all ages. From exciting roller coasters and movie-based attractions to immersive theme areas like Harry Potter's Magic World, there's something for all tastes.
What else you need to know:
- Coca-Cola Freestyle Souvenir Cup: It's a glass that gives you the right to charge free drinks all day, as often as you want! That's right! You buy the glass – which costs $18.99 – and you can use it all day in the park. Remembering that the refill is valid only for one day. If on another day you go back to any of the parks, just take your glass, drive to a store or kiosk and charge it for $11.99. There are over 100 different drinks for you to try! It's super worth it!
- Free parking after 18h: After 6 pm, CityWalk parking is free, which can be a good option for you who want to enjoy the night at the restaurants and ballads of that place.
- Parks do not have fireworks: Unlike Disney, Universal Studios parks have no fireworks show.
- Download the park app: for you to have a better experience in parks, you need to download the Universal Orlando Resort app. With it you can check the queue time of the attractions, plan your itinerary, see all the schedule of the day, store the place where you parked your car, order food and drinks and more! It is available for IOS and Android, but only works if you are already on American soil.
