Universal Orlando: Fun in the Sun with Wizards, Minions, and Fantastical Creatures! #readyforUniversal

My family and I received 2 day- 2 park tickets with Fast Pass to Universal Orlando. All opinions of our magical adventure are my own.

Universal Orlando Resort- an Amazingly Magical Adventure!

Universal Orlando Resort– amazing destination for your family vacation!

Universal Orlando Resort is a unique vacation destination that is part of the NBCUniversal Comcast family. For more than 25 years, Universal Orlando has been creating epic vacations for the entire family – incredible experiences that place guests in the heart of powerful stories and adventures.

Universal Orlando’s theme parks, Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure, are home to some of the world’s most exciting and innovative theme park experiences – including The Wizarding World of Harry Potter-Hogsmeade and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter-Diagon Alley. And now open is Universal Orlando’s third park, Universal’s Volcano Bay – an entirely new water theme park experience. Universal’s on-site resort hotels, Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, the Hard Rock Hotel, Loews Royal Pacific Resort, Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort and Loews Sapphire Falls Resort, feature a total of 5,600 rooms and are destinations unto themselves. Its entertainment complex, Universal CityWalk, offers dining and entertainment for every member of the family.

Universal Orlando Resort has unveiled more than 20 new guest experiences since 2010 – powerful attractions, incredible dining opportunities and dramatically themed hotels. Now open is Skull Island: Reign of Kong, a groundbreaking attraction in Islands of Adventure, and CityWalk’s newest, unique dining experience, The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen.

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER™

Including Hogsmeade™, Diagon Alley™ and the Hogwarts™ Express at Universal Orlando Resort™

One of the first things we did when we got into Islands of Adventure was ride The Forbidden Journey!

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is the heart of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. This all-new adventure combines a powerful story line with spectacular new technology so effectively that guests are completely immersed in the experience.

It was amazing- it’s considered a 4D ride and it definitely captivated us from the first moment we started on our journey. My son and I really don’t like roller coasters, but The Forbidden Journey was just the right combination of our senses so that we enjoyed the whole thing!

Unlike other teens, my son didn’t read the Harry Potter Series until just recently. Since then, he has been on a mission to visit Universal Orlando. It was so much fun to watch him get excited about things- if you have a 14 year-old, you understand that they DON’T get excited about much! He even FORCED us to try a new drink.

Yes, you guessed it! The main reason we HAD to visit Universal Orlando was because of Butterbeer! Universal is the only place you can GET authentic Butterbeer in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter!!

There are 2 parks that both have unique Harry Potter escapades:

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade- Islands of Adventure
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley- Universal Studios

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade is located in Universal’s Islands of Adventure. Here you can explore the classrooms and corridors of Hogwarts castle, enjoy a tasty Butterbeer, come face-to-face with magical creatures as you join Harry Potter on a groundbreaking ride – and more!

Head next door to Universal Studios Florida and explore more of the wizarding world than ever before at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley. This land features thrills, shops, and magical experiences, including an innovative ride inside the goblin-run Gringotts bank!

Have you ever heard a frog choir? What a fun show that was!

Hogwarts Express:

Don’t miss this magical ride- not only does it take you from park to park, but it gives your feet a rest!

Remember, you need a Park-to-Park Ticket so you can travel between the two lands on the Hogwarts Express!

It was really hard to decide which Harry Potter world we liked the best- they were so different and so unique. I think we spent a little more time in Diagon Alley only because it rained hard and it had more places to keep dry.

We ate dinner at the Leaky Cauldron one night. It was amazing and we highly recommend adding it to your “must eat there” list when you go to Universal!

Don’t forget the Butterbeer!!

My son kept wanting Butterbeer- that’s all we heard for the first few hours- then he got one and it was love at first sip! It’s sweet, refreshing and has a foam head on it that takes like butterscotch/caramel.

Then we tried FROZEN Butterbeer. It was my favorite!

Seuss Landing:

Seuss landing is magical no matter how old you are. It brought back great memories of all Justin’s favorite Dr. Seuss books we read over and over again when he was little.

Do you like Green Eggs and Ham?

We visited various other fun places- there were sooo many. Here are a few of our favorites.

The Despicable Me Minion Mayhem ride was so cute! The story was cute, the ride was 3D and whimsically fun! I LOVE Minions so the boys had to concede to visit Minion land!

Men in Black Alien Attack- a family favorite every time!

Every time we visit Universal, we HAVE to play Men in Black Alien Attack! Of course, this year, we played it 3 times in a row because we had the amazing Fast Pass!!