“I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.” You know, it can be really fun to “be up to no good”, don’t you think? After nearly ten months of talking about being up to no good, we finally decided to get the best of “both worlds”. And by “both worlds”, we are talking about the Walt Disney World Resort and the Universal Orlando Resort.
Even though there is so much to do at Walt Disney World, we highly recommend spending a day or two at the Universal Orlando Resort. The parks are beyond different in so many ways. You will see. And a little FYI for you, popcorn is not the main snack attraction at Universal Orlando…poof (mind blown). At any rate, let’s get back to the point and that point being that a trip to the Walt Disney World Resort should include a day at Universal (at the very least). So, here are some tips that will make your day at the movies EPIC!
Choose Wisely: There are TWO parks to visit: Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios. Both parks are unique in their own way. Whether you are visiting for one day or four days, we suggest purchasing the park-to-park ticket. Park-to-park tickets allow you to ride the Hogwarts Express and let u tell you, it is highly worth it!
Universal App: Their official app is everything – especially right now! Park maps are available if you ask for them at the entrance; however everything you will need will be on the app. Looking to reserve a virtual line queue? In the app. Mobile ordering (which they highly recommend)? In the app. ACCURATE wait times? You betcha, they are in the app. In all honesty, the app is helpful, very different from My Disney Experience, but super helpful!
Refillable Cups: Cups of water are free! So if you are looking to save some moolah, definitely head to the counters to request a cup of water. Now, we purchased the refillable cup, which was fabulous. Once you purchase, you have a day filled with free refills (every 10 minutes). There are so many options, as you can fill up at the Coke Freestyle machines or any location serving fountain soda. However, what we loved was the fact that we could get ICEE’s! Now is not the time to tell us that “ICEE’s are not healthy”, when the temperature is in the high 90’s an ICEE or four is a lifesaver – trust us!
Express Pass: If you want to make the most out of your day on the attractions, you will want to purchase the Universal Express pass. There are a few options for this pass depending on whether or not you will want to repeat rides; however each pass is only available for one day. It can add up, so if you want the most out of your day – visit the attractions you really want first thing in the day especially if the virtual line queue is not available.
Backpack: Bring it! It is Florida, so you will want to keep a poncho on hand in case you need it. Pack any snacks you will want throughout the day unless you are looking to purchase some. I love feeling “hands free” and a backpack is the way to do it. Do I love purses? That is a YES, however when I am in the park – I just cannot fit enough in a little purse so, backpacks for us all around! Better to bring a few backpacks so one does not get too heavy! Now, some attractions at Universal require you to store you things in a locker prior to riding, they are free while you ride – just make sure you READ the directions for the locker, prior to closing it as some you will need your ticket to reopen and others your fingerprint. Hint – if your backpack is super stuffed you might want to take out a few of the objects and fit them in the locker separately.
Clothing: This is a total preference area; however wear clothing that is light in weight and can dry easily. It can get hot out there and passing a “water” ride will be tempting, so make sure you wear clothes that can dry quickly so they are not – well – painful in places. We are not “water ride” people, however an attraction like Jurassic Park River Adventure is totally worth the frizzy hair!
Now, we can go on and on about Universal Orlando Resort, but for now – this should be a good starting point for your travels. And let’s face it, depending on how long you stay, will determine how much you do. You will most likely have to accept the fact that – even on a weeklong vacation, you will not come close to seeing “everything” and doing “everything”, but as long as you get your priorities done, saving things for another visit is part of the fun… don’t you think?
We cannot wait to plan your next epic adventure and at no extra cost!
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Contact us today! durfee@themouseexperts.com