Universal Orlando™: Inside guide

The lowdown: When the lights go out, the magic happens. All new for 2018, you can watch a dazzling lightshow at Hogsmeade™, Islands of Adventure. Whether you’re Ravenclaw or not-quite-sure, you’ll find every Hogwarts™ house celebrated with the help of powerful projections on Hogwarts Castle™. This short show is repeated regularly on selected nights. The best place to watch is from near the Frog Choir stage.

The lowdown: Voodoo Doughnut breaks all the rules. Portland’s crazy yeast-based business has finally come to Universal, bringing with it fifty different ‘sinfully delicious’ flavours, from the cereal-studded to the risqué. Craving bacon? It’s the star attraction on the Bacon Maple Bar. Vegan? No problem. Doughnut miss this addition to Universal CityWalk.

Best for: Your favourite films made into blockbuster attractions, including: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ - Diagon Alley™ and blockbuster rides with The Simpsons™, TRANSFORMERS and the Minions.

The lowdown: At the studios, some of the best attractions are old favourites and evening screenings. Speaking of old – dare to disturb an ancient curse on Revenge of the Mummy  and you’ll be at the mercy of a rollercoaster in the pitch dark.

Know this… Mmm… doughnuts… unleash your inner Homer Simpson in Springfield, where you’ll find some of Universal Studios’ most instagrammable eats: there’s even a real-life Krusty Burger.

Best for: The Incredible Hulk Coaster® that’ll turn you green and Jurassic Park™ raptors who look alarmingly happy to see you.

The lowdown: Island-hop between Marvel-lous super heroes, dinosaurs and a giant ape called Kong. That’s King Kong to you. Islands of Adventure has been voted the best Amusement Park in the World three years in a row in Trip Advisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards.

Know this… On a hot day, triple up on the water rides. Head to the back of the park for the Jurassic Park River Adventure™, then jump on Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls® and Popeye & Bluto's Bilge Rat Barges®. Done all three? You’ve gotta be soaking.

Best for: Staying cool and seeking thrills. Try the Ko’okiri Body Plunge™ – a 125 foot drop through the middle of the park’s ginormous, vertiginous volcano.

The lowdown: Universal’s Volcano Bay is a surprising new ‘water theme park’, which uses the latest tech so you can queue virtually without actually standing in line. That means you can be on the beach, slurping a rainbow soft-serve ice cream whilst you wait. There are 19 attractions, including two ‘lazy’ rivers – one is calm, but one rushes you around like a rinse cycle.

Know this… Access the park with a Universal Orlando 3 Park Explorer Ticket². You’ll be given a waterproof wearable – called a TapuTapu™ – which holds your place in the queue for your next ride. 

The lowdown: Universal Orlando is the only place in the world where you can experience The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ at two parks connected by the wonderful Hogwarts™ Express⁴. Diagon Alley™ is at Universal Studios Florida and Hogsmeade™ is at Universal's Islands of Adventure. A lovingly detailed world, right down to the last shrunken head on Knockturn Alley, it’s got astonishing rides. In 2019, look out for a new coaster at Hogsmeade™.

Stay for: With tablets in every room, this modern hotel uses technology to makes things easy – and fun, too. There’s a VR games room and an underwater sound system in the pool. After a long day out at the parks, crack open a beer at the rooftop bar or toast yourself up some s’mores in the fire pits.

Book a stay at Universal's Aventura Hotel

Stay for: If you can pull yourself away from your inflatable ring (purchased at the hotel) on the lazy river, you’ll find a charismatically retro hotel with two pools and in-room pizza delivery. Plus, you can comfortably sleep a family of six in one suite.Upgrade to a Volcano Side room for impressive water park views.

Stay for: The biggest pool of any Universal Orlando hotel. You might be tempted to centre your holiday around the rum bar, but kids will centre theirs around the water slide.

Book a stay at Loews Sapphire Falls Resort at Universal Orlando

Stay at any of Universal Orlando’s on-site hotels and enjoy special access to the theme parks with your Universal Orlando Explorer ticket, giving you Early Park Admission³ to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ and Universal’s Volcano Bay one hour before the park opens.

Stay for: This palmy green paradise is straight out of the South Pacific, but you can go Far East at Emeril’s Tchoup Chop restaurant. Get your loud shirt out and your aloha on at the special weekly Wantilan Luau night (fees apply).

Book a stay at Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando

Stay for: Live music from the Velvet Session concerts⁵, poolside cinema, and music memorabilia – look out for Elvis Presley’s pyjamas. Don’t miss the food: this luxury hotel knows how to load up a burger.

Book a stay at Hard Rock Hotel® at Universal Orlando

Stay for: Italian indulgence that doesn’t stop at a crispy pizza (though that’s delicious, too). There are cobbled streets, elegant Old World furnishings, and three pools. For the best lounging around, head to the Villa Pool.

Book a stay at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando

Stay at either Loews Royal Pacific Resort, Hard Rock Hotel^®or Loews Portofino Bay Hotel and enjoy FREE⁶ Universal Express Unlimited™ ride access. This means you can skip the regular queues in Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure – less waiting, and more time by the pool.