If you have a family with kids who love the idea of visiting a theme park – especially if they (or you!) are Harry Potter fans – planning a vacation at Universal Orlando Resort is probably on your vacation bucket list. And if it isn’t (yet), here’s why it should be.
Why Everyone Will Love It
Universal Orlando Resort is made up of 3 theme parks – Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, and the Volcano Bay water theme park – along with City Walk, a fabulous and fun shopping and dining district. Located within both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure is the amazing and incredible Wizarding World of Harry Potter, where every wizard or muggle can enter a magical world that literally comes to life from the books and movies. For families with children that are multiple ages – but especially with older kids – the thrills and excitement of the many rides and attractions make this an ideal vacation destination.
In addition to the Wizarding World (more about that in a minute), Marvel fans will find plenty to love at Marvel Super Hero Island, a stylized metropolis area that has many larger-than-life superheroes doing battle with a legion of supervillains. Or, for fans of the Simpsons, check out Springfield, USA where you can enjoy restaurants and types of food from the show (try Duff Beer, a Krusty Burger, or a (non-alcoholic) Flaming Moe). And while Universal Orlando has plenty of thrills, little ones will love Seuss Landing, an adorable area that feels like a Dr. Seuss illustration come to life. Be sure to find the Lorax amongst the Truffula trees. While many of the rides in this area are designed for a younger crowd, for anyone who loves Dr. Seuss, exploring this area is a lot of fun.
Of course, for Harry Potter fans, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is the highlight. This incredible area is made of two separate areas: Hogsmeade in Islands of Adventure, and Diagon Alley in Universal Studios. These two sections are created with painstaking attention to detail and anyone who has loved the books or movies can – and will – spend hours enjoying all that these areas have to offer.
The Hogsmeade section of the Wizarding World makes it feel as though you’re walking through narrow streets of shops, with Hogwarts seated majestically on the hill at the end of the road. Be sure to pay attention to all of the shop windows. Want to enter Hogwarts? Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is located in this magical building, and even if you’re not going to ride, the queue is not to be missed.
Although Hogsmeade has wonderful theming, there’s even more attention to detail in Diagon Alley, the “other” section of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Studios. Go inside the shops, explore hidden corners, and don’t miss Knockturn Alley. Again, even if you’re not keen to ride Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, the queue is an experience in itself with some amazing animatronics. And don’t miss the fire-breathing dragon!
Both areas offer plenty when it comes to food and drink, with dining available at Three Broomsticks or the Leaky Cauldron. Or grab a butterbeer when you’re thirsty, or pick up some chocolate frogs for a fun snack. Best of all – and truly not-to-be-missed – be sure to visit Ollivander’s Wand Shop and see what kind of wand chooses you! When you’re ready to travel from Hogsmeade to Diagon Alley – and back again – just hop on the Hogwarts Express, as it travels between the two areas.
What Else is Included
With 3 theme parks including the new and exciting Volcano Bay water theme park, as well as City Walk shopping and dining, there’s still a lot to enjoy on the rest of the Universal Orlando Resort. Seven different hotels provide a variety of fun themes from the Italian Riviera, to the South Pacific, to rock and roll, to the Caribbean, and even a fun and funky 60’s theme – so there is truly something for everyone! Elaborate pools, great dining, along with some surprising details make each resort fun to explore even if you’re not staying there. Why you’ll even find a bowling alley. And with everything – including the parks – being so close together, getting around to explore is super easy! The Universal resorts all provide a number of great perks as well including Early Entry to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and 3 of the resorts even include Universal’s Express Pass, which provides front-of-the-line access to many of the most popular rides. Because who wants to spend their entire vacation standing in line?
If a super-fun theme park experience is on your family’s travel bucket list – one that will have everyone saying “whoa!” throughout the day – Universal Orlando Resort is a great choice for a truly incredible summer vacation!
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