05/15/2026
Sharing some pics & tips from my Universal Orlando trip last weekend! Special thanks to my Tate ( ) for his "modeling" skills and not complaining about it too much 😍.
Stayed at the Aventura Hotel (Universal Partner Hotel) and visited City Walk, Universal Studios, & Islands of Adventure 🎢. I also spent a couple of hours at Volcano Bay, which was literally right next to the hotel & easily walkable 🏨💦.
Tips (just my opinion):
📝 Top 3 Fav Rides you should not miss: Velocicoaster, Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure (longest wait), & toss up between the Mummy and Harry Potter & Escape from Gringotts.
📝Rides I will skip next time: Some of the 3-D rides like The Simpson's Ride, Minions Mayhem & Transformers...they made me queasy.
📝 Worth standing in line for the top notch queue theming: Gringotts (Goblins), Forbidden Journey (castle), & Kong.
📝Fav world: Hands down Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Even the shops immerse you in the story. Spend time just browsing around.
📝The Butterbeer is worth the hype. Get the frozen one!
📝 Eat at Mythos Restaurant before it closes next summer!
📝 Just walk through Suess Landing even if you don't have small kids. One of cutest lands I've seen. Very well done.
📝If you ride the water rides in IOA (which looked super cute), just know almost everyone I saw getting off was SOAKED. So dress accordingly.
📝If available to your hotel, take the water taxis to the parks! You go through security at the hotel rather than waiting at the parks. We were able to use the water taxi at the Loews Sapphire Resort (beautiful hotel).
📝Take a day & pool hop hotels (if available to you).
📝You have to walk through City Walk to get to both parks, FYI. Comparing to Disney Springs, CW is more "happening"- more restaurants & entertainment, less "shoppy" that DS.
📝 Biggest recommendation: Take advantage of early park admission if staying at a partner hotel. You can ride so much! Suggest starting at Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios 2nd half of the day.
I'll be breaking some of this down & sharing bits & pieces of my trip in the hopes it helps anyone out! I am here to help you start planning your amazing, adverture-filled trip!
📧[email protected], PM, or text me at 225-802-6689.
