When heading to Orlando earlier in the year one of the main reasons for my visit was to go to Universal Studios where I spent two days around the two parks, Universal and Islands of Adventure. My main reason for wanting to visit Universal in Orlando was so that I could visit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
I personally preferred Universal to Disney as I felt that there where more rides at Universal that were appealing to me.
Due to staying on International Drive we got a shuttle bus from the hotel that took us to Universal, before entering the park you take a long walk through city walk. We left taking a walk through the shops along city walk until the second day, you are also able to find a selection of restaurants such as Panda Express and Bubba Gump. Along CityWalk you will also find VooDoo Doughnuts which is somewhere I would recommend visiting to buy a doughnut even if you just get one to eat back at your accommodation later on.
For our first day we went to Universal where we chose to ride Despicable Me first which was located near the entrance as we found that we didn’t have to wait long. Upon entering the park we could see a lot of people where heading to the back of the park first so this was another reason we decided ride these at the front first whilst there wasn’t really a queue. Once we’d been on this we decided to go to the Harry Potter part where we stopped for a Starbucks on our walk to there. Before boarding Hogwarts Express to take us to Islands of Adventure where there is also another part of Wizarding World of Harry Potter we took a walk around Diagon Alley where you are able to see Gringotts Bank as well as go in some shops. Within Universal you are also able to see Kings Cross Station, Knight Bus and Leicester Square station. To go on the Hogwarts Express you need to make sure you have a park to park ticket. Once we got off the Hogwarts Express we took a walk around Hogsmeade where I had a photo with a ‘ticket officer’. Islands of Adventure is where you are able to see the famous Hogwarts and also able to sample some butter beer. We then took a walk around Islands of Adventure but didn’t go on any of the rides before then going back to the hotel.
On our second day in Universal we stayed in the one park as we took the day to watch some of the performances we hadn’t seen the day before including Blues Brothers, Beat Builders and the parade. We also spent the day riding any other rides that we hadn’t the day before including Transformers 3D, Shrek and Jimmy Kimmel. Once we’d finished at Universal we then took a walk along CityWalk going in the shops as well as going to Bubba Gump for some food.
Within Universal you are able to meet some characters including Shrek, Minions, Betty Boop, Scooby Doo and Shaggy.
Universal is somewhere I wish to go back to so that I can go on some of the rides that we never managed to get on.
Is there anything you like specifically for Universal in Orlando?
LauraJane
WORLDOFLAURAJANE 