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Resort complex in Orange County, Florida, U.S.
Photo: NBCUniversal, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Universal Orlando Resort is a theme park resort in Orlando, Florida, composed of three theme parks, an entertainment district with nightlife and restaurants, a waterpark, and several hotels. Many visitors describe it as a place of fun, action, magic, excitement, humor, wonder, fantasy and attention to detail.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
On this 4-D motion simulator ride, step into Gru's mansion as you prepare to become one of his Minions. Of course, things go wrong and a madcap adventure through his super villain lair ensues with Gru, Margo, Edith and Agnes at your side.
Step aboard your motion simulator vehicle and race through this dark ride that puts you right in the middle of a battle between the Autobots and the Decepticons. Don't worry, only the fate of the entire world hangs in the balance.
Jimmy Fallon, the host of NBC's Tonight Show, leads this race through New York in specialized "Tonight Rider" vehicles. It features a state-of-the-art "Virtual Line" system where instead of waiting in a long queue to ride, the line is virtual and alerts guests as their time to ride nears.
Starting out as a spooky dark ride through the ancient Egyptian tomb of the 1999 Mummy film starring Brendan Frasier, you'll come face to face with the namesake Imohtep, before catapulting away from his curses as the ride turns into a full-throttle roller coaster!
The flagship ride of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, a dramatic and exciting adventure through the Gringotts vaults, where several of the main characters (and a dragon) make appearances.
Riders shoot aliens in a Men in Black training exercise gone wrong. Earn points for shooting the aliens and pushing the red button at the right time.
In the spirit of The Simpsons, this ride almost feels like a parody of theme parks. It's a motion simulator with the premise that Sideshow Bob has taken over Krustyland as part of an evil scheme, and lots of characters from Springfield make an appearance.
This ride, a gentle alien adventure story loosely inspired by E.T., dates back to the grand opening of Universal Studios Florida. It pales in comparison to some of the newer rides, but it still has some charm, is not scary, and has one or two fun surprises.
An outdoor dinosaur-themed playground where children can encounter animatronic velociraptors and explore lava pits, caves, mines and a rainforest.
The gentlest of the Harry Potter roller coasters. A fairly short (1-minute) outdoor ride without much of a story.
A fast-paced adventure flying through Hogwarts and its grounds, featuring many characters and memorable elements out of the books and movies, from Hagrid to Quidditch. The mix of humor, excitement, and nostalgia will be a joy for Harry Potter fans. The ride is partly but not entirely a motion simulator, but be warned, some visitors find the rolling motion to be nausea-inducing.
You'll sit on Hagrid's motorcycle or in the sidecar for this outdoor roller coaster. More intense than the other Harry Potter rides.
A carousel with all sorts of fantastical Seussian creatures.
Ride that retells the classic Seuss story. Suitable for young kids and nostalgic adults.
Very gentle ride with views of the Dr. Seuss area of the park, set to narration loosely inspired by And to Think that I Saw It on Mulberry Street.
A 1950s drive-in-movie-themed mini-golf facility containing two mini-golf courses.
A live show with daily performances.
You probably didn't come all the way to Orlando just to go to a movie theater, but it's a way to relax after an energetic day on the rides, or to enjoy yourself if it's rainy out.
The main part of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (the smaller Hogsmeade section is in Islands of Adventure), hidden behind a brick wall in the "London" area of the park. The whimsical storefronts are a delight for fans of the series, and the attention to detail means that a walk around the area will reveal lots of interesting touches. If you turn the corner near the Leaky Cauldron you'll find yourself in dim, eerie Knockturn Alley, and don't miss the dragon atop Gringotts Bank that breathes fire every ten to fifteen minutes.
The smaller portion of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, a recreation of the wizarding village of Hogsmeade complete with snowy rooftops and crooked chimneys. A stunning recreation of Hogwarts Castle hosts the "Forbidden Journey" ride and has outdoor light shows each evening around dusk (times vary by season).
When you reach this part of the park, pause to take in the Seussical landscape. Even the real plants in this area look like something out of the classic picture books.
Its popularity as a selfie spot means that you might have to wait in line for a photo. To avoid the wait, try taking your photo from across the water with the globe in the background. Then the globe may look less prominent, but you'll capture other parts of CityWalk in the photo too.
The Cosmos Fountain has many smaller displays throughout the day, but the main show is at park close. It features music from all four lands within the park and beautiful displays of water and light synchronized to the music.
Ice cream, milkshakes, and Dole Whip.
The premier global Seattle-based coffeehouse, offering a wide range of coffee beverages, smoothies, teas, and breakfast and lunch options.
The food is subpar, but come for the Harry Potter atmosphere and for the butterbeer. The Leaky Cauldron and the Three Broomsticks are the only two places in the park that offer a dairy-free/vegan version of the cream on top of the butterbeer.
Burgers and similar. To skip waiting in line, seat yourself and order from the Universal App (the app will ask for your table number; if you don't see a number on the table, ask a staff member). Vegan option available.
Classic chain bakery serving up hot cinnamon rolls, "Cinnabon Stix", and other treats all day.
Dr. Seuss themed hash browns with creative toppings. Vegan option available.
The food is subpar, but come for the ambience of a pub from the world of Harry Potter. It has multiple types of butterbeer (including a dairy-free/vegan version of the cream on top).
Named best theme park restaurant in the world by Theme Park Insider. Reserve in advance.
Classic chain bakery serving up hot cinnamon rolls, "Cinnabon Stix", and other treats all day.
Spot for ice cream, smoothies, and shakes with a variety of toppings mixed in on, yes, cold stone slabs.
From Bourbon Street direct to Orlando, frozen daiquiris and other drinks are crafted at this walk-up counter in a rainbow of colors and flavors.
Set under the wings of Jimmy Buffett's seaplane, this tiki bar set beside the lake serves up margaritas and frozen drinks, and also offers a menu of small bites.
A great spot to fill your bowl with a wide array of frozen yogurt flavors and countless toppings.
The global Seattle-based coffeehouse, offering a wide range of coffee beverages, smoothies, teas, and breakfast and lunch options.
This Oregon-born gourmet donut chain's first East Coast outpost features the delicious desserts that grew a cult following at the original spot.
Classic deli sandwiches and hot melts are served up alongside soups, salads, and desserts. Vegan option available.
The famous Whoppers are assembled in front of you with a choice of over 20 different toppings at this concept joint from BK.
A unique array of hot dogs from around the country, including the New York dogs with sauerkraut and authentic Milwaukee bratwurst. Seating is stadium-style and the place even has artificial turf to complete the baseball-themed experience!
Inventive Tex-Mex dishes are made in front of your eyes at this counter-serve joint.
The classic fast good Chinese restaurant, with all of the traditional dishes, including their famous Orange Chicken.
Build your own personalized pie and watch as chefs toss it into a piping hot stone oven to cook it in just around 90 seconds!
Mexican street fare is offered up at this large, lively, and colorful restaurant. Sit in comfort as live Mariachi music serenades diners on select nights.
Sit inside a lovingly-constructed replica of Bob Marley's home in Kingston, Jamaica as you chow down on Jamaican food including oxtail stew, jerk chicken, and yucca fries. The open-air courtyard also contains artifacts and photos of Marley as video clips play on TVs.
Shrimp is served in countless varieties, just like Bubba explained in the seminal film "Forrest Gump". Southern fare and seafood is the name of the game here, along with memorabilia from the movie.
A cavernous sports bar with nearly 100 HD screens covering everything from football to volleyball, along with an elevated menu of American food and bottles and drafts ranging from local stars to unique imports.
This New Orleans import serves classic Cajun cuisine and the famed Hurricane drinks straight from Bourbon Street. After 5PM, musicians take the stage and perform tunes on the iconic dueling pianos.
Looks like a whimsical candy factory out of a movie. It serves meals too, but the focus is on desserts, especially milkshakes big enough to share. One vegan milkshake available.
Stylish, modern restaurant serving up classic Italian recipes from pizza to pasta out of an open kitchen. A wide variety of vintage wines, Italian-influenced cocktails are also offered by the full bar.
Bar and karaoke club that features backup singers and even a live band! A nightly host keeps the crowd energized. (Pre-recorded music only is offered Sunday and Monday.) Su-Th ages 18+, F Sa ages 21+.
From Bourbon Street to Orlando, frozen daiquiris and other drinks are crafted at this walk-up counter in a rainbow of colors and flavors.
Set under the winds of Jimmy Buffett's seaplane, this tiki bar alongside the lake serves up margaritas and frozen drinks, and also offers a menu of small bites.
This New Orleans import serves classic Cajun cuisine and the famed Hurricane drinks straight from Bourbon Street. After 5PM, musicians take the stage and perform tunes on the iconic dueling pianos.
The Cabana Bay Beach Resort, opened in 2014, is a 2,200-room retro-themed resort offering both motel-style family suites and standard interior-entrance rooms. Despite the low price point, it offers some unique elements like a bowling alley, an arcade, and a special Jack LaLanne fitness center. The resort features two large zero-entry pools, both offering the namesake cabanas, and a lazy river. The main building also has a large cafeteria-style restaurant named Bayliner Diner, as well as a Starbucks, the Swizzle Lounge bar, and a Universal Studios Store. Each pool also has a bar.
The Royal Pacific Resort is another dynamite resort on the Universal Studios grounds. One thing to not miss out on while staying at The Royal Pacific offers is the chance to experience authentic Polynesian cuisine and entertainment at Wantilan Luau. Unlike the Portofino Bay, the Royal Pacific Resort only offers one pool, but as an on-site guest you can travel to any of the other on-site hotels and are allowed pool access. The fan favorite pool... the one located at the Hard Rock Resort (it plays music under water!).
The Hard Rock Hotel is the third of Universal Orlando's upscale resorts, featuring theming that makes it resemble a sprawling mansion of a rock star in Hollywood. There is a hip, music-oriented theme inside; at the pool, you can actually listen to music underwater.
Portofino Bay is a beautiful Italian style-hotel, however it can be a bit pricey, depending on the season. Out of the places to eat at this hotel, a particularly good option is Mama Della's Ristorante. The eatery offers great food and great service; however beware of the dim lighting, so you may need your reading glasses to get a look at the delicious menu. Don't fret about getting there before check-in, they allow guests to pre-register as soon as they arrive, and will even activate the Universal Express feature before you check-in so you can get the most out of your vacation.
Creepy souvenirs such as Death Eater masks sold in the dimly lit Knockturn Alley.
Not just a wand shop but an interactive show as well – you'll be allowed in with a group of other visitors, and Ollivander chooses one member of the crowd for a wand selection ceremony. (This little performance is well worth watching, but if you want to skip it, you can go into the shop from the other side without meeting Ollivander.) And the wands for sale are not just souvenirs: they can be used at various locations in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade to do magic. Each wand's box comes with a map of these sections of the park and instructions for how to cast spells. Not a joke – the wand motions really make things happen! Some of the spells can be a bit tricky so they may take several tries, but don't give up.
All sorts of Quidditch-related souvenirs, including house jerseys and broomsticks.
A smaller wand shop, naturally less popular than Ollivanders.
Fred and George's joke shop, also selling quirky sweets.
Recreation of the convenience store from The Simpsons, complete with enormous pink donuts and (non-alcoholic) Duff beer for sale.
Assorted Dr. Seuss paraphernalia, including lots of picture books (Seuss's own as well as later imitators).
Candy shop.
Candy store. The adjacent Zonko's Joke Shop is just a storefront, so head to Weasley's Wizard Wheezes in Diagon Alley for practical joke themed items.
Similar to the wand shop in Diagon Alley (see above).
By car
Interstate 4 is the most direct driving route to Universal Orlando, passing just south of the resort.
By train
Amtrak's Silver Service Miami–New York City routes serve Orlando four times daily, with two trains in either direction.
By bus
Universal's Superstar Shuttle is a very popular option for guests staying at Universal resort hotels; it provides transportation to and from Orlando International Airport.
Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and City Walk are all within walking distance from each other and from most hotels.
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