The Universal Orlando resort has two parks and the CityWalk shopping and dining district. All are within walking distance of each other, so you can travel between them easily and really maximize the features of a two-park pass. Smaller than Disney, this park doesn’t take long to thoroughly enjoy. So just how long should you make your stay? Here are some questions to help you find out.
How intense is your Harry Potter fandom?
If you have a solid appreciation of all things Harry Potter, you’ll easily find The Wizarding World one of the best parts of Universal Orlando Resort. You could easily spend an entire day immersed in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. If you’re an avid Harry Potter fan, give yourself two days. It’s worth including time to explore these areas at a leisurely pace for the food and drinks alone. Start your first day of Potter-themed indulgence with a full English breakfast at the Leaky Cauldron. Head back for lunch and find decadent options like the filling ploughman’s lunch, bangers and mash, toad in the hole, and more.
Over in Hogsmeade, the Three Broomsticks serves both lunch and dinner. The shepherd’s pie and Cornish pasties both feature a savory filling and a side salad to round out the meal. The spare ribs platter and rotisserie smoked chicken platter come with roasted potatoes and corn on the cob. There’s so much to try, you can easily enjoy multiple meals here. Don’t forget to sample the magical drinks. The Three Broomsticks serves butterbeer, pumpkin juice, pumpkin fizz, and pear cider among others. At the Leaky Cauldron you’ll find additional options like peachtree fizzing tea, fishy green ale, otter’s fizzy orange juice, and tongue tying lemon squash.
Don’t forget to ride the Hogwarts Express at least twice. You’ll get a difference experience both ways.
How old are the members of your party?
If you have small children in your party, you’ll get a very different vacation experience from what you’ll have with teenagers and adults. Carefully consider the varying needs of your family members in different age brackets.
Families with small children will need more frequent breaks. You may want to head back to the hotel each afternoon for a nap out of the heat and sun. This will slow down your progress around the parks. However, Universal has an extremely high number of attractions with height restrictions. If your children are under 36 inches tall, they’ll be very limited in what they can do. If you plan to skip over these attractions, you may find that you can do everything you want to with a day for each park. If you have older children who want to take a turn on the attractions, give yourself enough time to slow down and cater to everyone. Two days in each park will allow you a more leisurely schedule.
If you have older children, teenagers, or adults in your party, you’ll find that Universal Orlando has a wealth of attractions to explore. If you love thrill rides and want to do it all, two days in each park will give you time to really experience everything the resort has to offer. If you shy away from some roller coasters, however, or only have a must-do list of three or four rides in a park, you’ll find you can easily do it in a day with older guests in your party.
Going to a special event?
Mardi Gras parade float
Image: zannaland, Flickr (license)
Universal’s special events are outstanding. Free concerts feature top acts during the Summer Concert Series and Mardi Gras. The Mardi Gras Parade is a must-see at least once for the flashy floats and abundance of beads. During the holiday season, you’ll want to see the Macy’s Holiday Parade and catch a showing of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Events like these can eat up an entire afternoon and evening, between staking out your spot and enjoying the entertainment. Add an extra day if they’re on the agenda.
If you’re in town for Halloween Horror Nights, you’ll want at least one night dedicated to the event. Don’t burn yourself out with a long theme park day beforehand, and don’t plan on being up early the next day. If you’re a big horror fan, you may want multiple nights for the event, as well as a day or two to enjoy the parks by sunlight.
What about nightlife?
Do you love the nightlife? Universal’s CityWalk is great for an evening of dancing and drinks. Get tickets to Blue Man Group, play a round of mini golf, have a karaoke night, and enjoy nearly any cuisine you could want. If you want to take time exploring CityWalk, partying late into the night, and sleeping in a bit the next day, go ahead and add a day to your stay.
Where are you staying?
Lowes Portofino Bay Hotel
Image: fpra, Flickr (license)
If you’re staying on property at one of Universal’s hotel properties, you’ll enjoy a wealth of perks. One of the best is a complementary Universal Express Unlimited pass. Included for guests at the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel, and Loews Royal Pacific Resort, this pass lets you hop in the Express Pass line for all the attractions. Since you won’t have to wait, you can easily enjoy all the top attractions with a single day in each park. A third day will give you time to fill in any blanks easily.
Though you won’t get an Express Pass at Loews Sapphire Falls Resort or Cabana Bay Beach Resort, you will still enjoy other benefits. All Universal Resort hotel guests get complimentary transportation to the parks, and early admission to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter which can shave some time out of your day.
Take the time to really consider what you want out of your stay to make sure you have the right amount of time at the Universal Orlando Resort.
