Is Staying On-site at Universal Orlando Worth It?
Shaina Brainard
12/1/20
If experiencing the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is a priority to your family, or if you have Transformers, Minions, or Jurassic Park fans among you, then visiting Universal Orlando Resort is a must. Many families consider stopping by Universal for a single day, or even squeezing a one-day visit into another vacation. And although that is certainly an option, let me share my experiences with you and explain why there is reason to stay on-site while visiting Universal Resort.
Early Park Access and Priority Access
Staying on-site at Universal Orlando offers benefits that truly make your experience easier and more enjoyable. Guests that have a reservation at one of Universal’s hotels have access to one or both of the theme parks an hour before other guests. I can tell you from personal experience this extra hour is one of the best. Not only can you accomplish the most in that first hour, but this is when you truly get a feel of the park before the crowds pick up. You can snap the best photos without an abundance of people in the background. And during busy seasons or on weekends when parks reach capacity (due to the new limits set during the Covid-19 pandemic), guests that are staying onsite also have priority access to the parks, while other guests may be turned away at the gate.
Easy Transportation
No matter which onsite resort you choose, Universal transportation makes visiting the parks easy. My personal favorite are the water taxis that go between four of the resorts and the center of CityWalk. The waterway is beautiful and relaxing, and the short boat ride really is an enjoyable ride in and of itself. We have never had to wait for a significant length of time for transportation to or from the resorts. At the end of the day when our feet were shot, it was so convenient to hop on the boat at the front of the park and be back at our resort relaxing in minutes.
Universal Express Pass Unlimited
Three of the Loew’s Resorts at Universal Studios have the added benefit of offering Universal Express Pass Unlimited included throughout your length of stay. I cannot emphasize enough what a value this adds to your vacation and time spent in the parks. Express Pass allows you to bypass the long lines in the parks and board rides quickly. On our recent trip the parks hit capacity; most lines were around two hours long by mid-day. With Universal Express Pass we never waited for longer than ten minutes for an attraction. It was easy to just flash our room key and ride. This was truly the only way we were able to do and see all that we did in one weekend.
Which leads me to the point, many believe that one day is all that is needed to experience Universal Orlando, but that is simply not true anymore. Even between the two theme parks, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, there is so much to do and experience. Even with the primary focus of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter there is so much to do and experience in the two parks that it is simply not possible to accomplish it in one day, especially without Express Pass. So why not give yourself the extra time to truly enjoy the parks, experience it all and not be so rushed? Stay onsite and make your visit truly a vacation in and of itself. Not to mention, the resorts range in price point, accommodations, and theming, offering something for everyone! And I would love to help you discover which resort is perfect for your family’s needs and interests.
As a travel agent with Wishes Family Travel, a Universal UPreferred Agency, I would love to help you plan your next Universal visit! Please follow me on facebook at www.facebook.com/shainabrainard.wft or email me at shaina@wishesfamilytravel.com to discuss your next vacation!