Park size: 108 acres (44 hectares)
Time: One day
START: Production Central
END: Hollywood
Points to note: With careful planning, in a long day you can hit most of the highlights here and also take in some of the rides at Islands of Adventure. But if you want to catch all the shows, it’s best to allow two days here.
Universal Studios Florida is a theme park for everyone who loves movies. While the rides and attractions feature plenty of popular film characters, it is not as character-led as the Disney parks and has a very different, earthier feel. Facades here look like authentic backlots. The fact that the film studios here opened in 1988, two years before the theme park, gives it added authenticity.
That said, when it comes to fun and entertainment, Universal Studios puts on a star performance. More than twice the size of its California counterpart, it is a popular park that, along with its sister, Islands of Adventure, has some seriously scary thrill rides. The pair, together with the 30-acre (12-hectare) CityWalk dining and nightlife complex (for more information, click here) in between, plus the Volcano Bay water park and several hotels, make up Universal Orlando Resort. One of the two theme parks will gain a Nintendo-themed area in coming years, but details have not yet been announced. If possible, allow one full day for Universal Studios and a second for Islands of Adventure. If budget allows, buy an Express Pass that allows you to skip the lines – it’s free if you’re staying at an on-site hotel. Single riders can also move through the lines more quickly by taking up spare seats in roller-coaster cars and on other rides. Universal offers a variety of single-day and multi-day passes to one or both parks, plus the new Volcano Bay water park. Per-day prices decrease when you buy larger multiday packs.
It’s easy to get around the park, so your interests and show times will largely determine your route. Other than Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts within The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley, whose popularity is without peer, the most in-demand rides tend to be the newest. Other stars include Men in Black: Alien Attack, Revenge of the Mummy, and Shrek 4-D; on busy days, head for these first. This route describes the highlights of many shows and attractions, proceeding in a clockwise direction from the entrance. In 2018, Fast & Furious: Supercharged is due to open, based on Universal Pictures’ highest-grossing film franchise.
Use the Universal Orlando Resort app to help you buy tickets, get around, see wait times, and plan around shows.
The entrance to Universal Orlando Resort
Universal Orlando Resort
Partying with the Blues Brothers on Delancey Street
Universal Orlando Resort
Production Central
From the entrance gate walk up Plaza of the Stars. On your left is Production Central with Despicable Me Minion Mayhem 1 [map] and Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit 2 [map]. The newest of these, Despicable Me, will have the whole family laughing. Over the road is Shrek 4-D 3 [map], a delightful movie in which special effects let you join the gentle ogre and Princess Fiona on their ill-fated honeymoon. TRANSFORMERS: The Ride 3-D 4 [map] is found to the right of these.
Experience New York from a different angle
Universal Orlando Resort
New York
Walk up 57th Street into New York, a backlot with some marvelous facades of the Big Apple. The newest addition to the area is Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon 5 [map], a simulator ride that makes you feel like you’re flying through the glittering city.
Another highlight is Revenge of the Mummy 6 [map], a thrill-filled coaster that pits you against the Mummy who is after your soul. You’ll plunge into a tomb of darkness, through balls of fire and past fearsome warriors from the dead.
Nearby on Delancey Street, Jake and Elwood strut their stuff across from Irish pub Finnegan’s Bar and Grill, see 1, in a rockin’ show featuring renditions of The Blues Brothers 7 [map] famous hits.
San Francisco
Walk on into San Francisco along the Embarcadero. Notice the turntable in the middle of the cobbled street, just like the ones used to turn the cable cars in the real city. There are some lovely views across the lake by Lombard’s Seafood Grille, see 2. The major attraction here will debut in 2018 – Fast & Furious: Supercharged – where high-speed cars will provide the backdrop for high-octane thrills.
The Simpsons Ride
Universal Orlando Resort
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley
When The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened at Islands of Adventure in 2014, it ushered in a gush of tourism for the park, which later built the Harry Potter mini-park here, themed as Diagon Alley; the two are connected by a train called The Hogwarts Express (access via a special two-park ticket). Whether you just want to take in the otherworldly British universe, enjoy a drink at the Leaky Cauldron, see 3, or are game for a full-on thrill ride, you will feel as if you are part of Harry Potter’s world.
Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts 8 [map] is the headliner here. As you ride through the tunnels below Gringotts bank, you’ll encounter dangers from the villainous Voldemort and troublesome trolls. 3D touches bring extra life to an already big thrill. Find time for Diagon Alley’s gift shops, where interactive wands, wizardly robes, and Quidditch equipment make great souvenirs.
World Expo
Continue on to World Expo, where you’ll find Fear Factor Live 9 [map], a reality show in which audience participants are chosen in advance. If you have the nerve for it, turn up for casting in front of the stadium about 75 minutes before the show. Men in Black: Alien Attack ) [map] is also here. It’s tremendous fun as you ride a spinning car through a darkened city, zapping aliens with your laser gun and racking up points to get your black suit.
TRANSFORMERS: The Ride 3-D
Universal Orlando Resort
Springfield: Home of the Simpsons
On The Simpsons Ride ! [map], you’ll join Homer and family on a wild ride through Krusty the Clown’s fantasy amusement park, which includes thrill rides, dark rides, and entertainment. You can also brave the frightfully named Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl @ [map], which involves trying to zap Springfield characters with lasers while spinning around them.
Woody Woodpecker’s Kidzone
This section of the park is filled with diversions for younger visitors, from sing-alongs with Barney to animal shows to playgrounds. A highlight for adults is the E.T. Adventure £ [map], a charming bicycle ride through the night sky to take E.T. back to his very colorful but ailing planet.
Hollywood
Sunset Boulevard brings you to the heart of Hollywood, where more tricks of the trade are revealed in the Universal Horror Make-Up Show $ [map]. It’s humorous as well as gruesome. Further down Hollywood Boulevard, Terminator 2: 3-D % [map] uses the original actors in a 3-D film with special effects and live action to continue the story where the movies left off. Mel’s Drive-In is ideal for a quick burger ‘n’ fries fill-up.
Check the schedule to see if you can catch Universal’s Superstar Parade and/or Universal’s Cinematic Spectacular.
Food and drink
1 Finnegan’s Bar and Grill
Delancey Street, New York; tel: 407-224-3613; $$
Burgers, chicken, seafood, corned beef, and Irish stew are on the menu, and there’s a daily happy hour.
2 Lombard’s Seafood Grille
San Francisco; tel: 407-224-3613; $$
This lakeside restaurant serves great clam chowder and seafood dishes, and tasty pastas as well.
3 Leaky Cauldron
Wizarding World; tel: 407-224-3613; $$
Counter-service pub featuring British staples plus colorful beverages adapted from the pages of the Harry Potter books.