Planning a trip to Universal Orlando and looking to stay at one of Universal’s hotels? In this post, we’ll walk you through the different ways to think about Universal’s eleven hotels, including why the tier breakdowns don’t make much sense, and how factors like location and theme are going to be relevant. Read on to learn all about picking your hotel for a trip to Universal Orlando Resort!

Early Park Admission is a perk available to Universal hotel guests (and certain other guests) that gets them access to a limited selection of rides at at least one of Universal Orlando’s parks—Universal Studios Florida or Universal’s Islands of Adventure—every day. In this post, we discuss who gets access to Early Park Admission, what is included in the extra hour, and how it can impact your day whether you have it or not.

Got a weekend and free and looking for an awesome blend of thrills, fun, and magic (the Wizardry kind, not the Kingdom kind)? Then Universal Orlando Resort might be calling your name. In this post we’ll break down how to make the most of a short visit to Universal Orlando. Read on to get planning your weekend at Universal!

Epic Universe opens May 22, 2025. But what can you expect? In this post I outline the main attractions we’re expecting from Universal’s brand new theme park. Since the park isn’t open yet, this is 99% research and 1% commentary. But if you’re looking to just get a quick, organized look at what’s coming next May, you’re in the right spot. Let’s learn about the attractions coming to Universal Epic Universe!

When planning a trip to Universal Orlando Resort, one of the important decisions you’ll have to make is whether to stay at a Universal hotel or not. In this post, we’ll discuss the various perks offered to guests of Universal hotels at Universal Orlando Resort. We’ll also include some commentary on how those impact our analysis of the hotels. Read on to learn about the perks of staying at a Universal Orlando hotel!

In this post we’re going to explain some similarities and differences between two great theme park resorts in Florida—Universal Orlando and Walt Disney World. Then I’ll dive into the big questions—Which is better, Universal or Walt Disney World? And yes, I (mostly) give an answer. Read on to learn all about how to decide between these two great destinations!

In this post, we discuss the future opening of Universal Epic Universe, a brand new theme park coming to Universal Orlando Resort. We start by introducing the park before moving onto questions about when it will open and the big question—how should you time your Universal Orlando trips while you await this news. Let’s get to it.

Let’s talk about height requirements at Universal Orlando. I’ll start with which rides have no height requirements. Then we’ll break down the height requirements by park and by milestone, so you can figure out exactly which height to bring your little one. Finally, we’ll finish with a quick discussion of rider switch at Universal Orlando.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is a land—or pair of two lands—at Universal Orlando Resort. While Universal Orlando Resort is itself worthy of a full vacation, we know some Harry Potter superfans just want to spend a day taking in Wizarding World. In this post, we’ll walk through the ins and outs of spending one day just visiting Wizarding World. Read on to learn how to plan your perfect day immersed in the Harry Potter universe!

In this post we answer an important question for your trip to Universal Orlando: How much does a trip to Universal Orlando cost? I’m going to start with what I’ll call the “Baseline Universal Vacation.” That’s the vacation I would go ahead and tell a first-timer to book without knowing anything about how the finances look. Then I’ll go ahead and talk about ways to increase and decrease your budget to fit your situation.

Looking to plan the perfect day at Universal Studios Florida? Well we’ve got the plan for you. In our Universal Studios Florida one day itinerary, we’ll take you step-by-step through a full day at the park!

Looking to plan the perfect day at Universal’s Islands of Adventure? Well we’ve got the plan for you. In our Universal’s Islands of Adventure one day itinerary, we’ll take you step-by-step through a full day at Islands of Adventure. The times in this post are based on an actual day spent at the park, except where noted.

This post includes a guide to all the rides at Universal Studios Florida, one of two parks at Universal Orlando Resort. It also includes a personal ranking of the best rides at the park and our tips for fitting each ride into your day. Read on to learn all about the Universal Studios Florida rides!

If you’re planning a trip to Universal Orlando Resort, you’ve come to the right place! In this guide, we cover everything from flights to hotels to riding all the best rides. Buckle up and get ready for some excitement—it’s time to plan a trip to Universal Orlando!

This year I finally got to visit one of theme park fandom’s premier holiday events—Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando Resort. In this post, I’ll provide some information about the event, as well as detailing my experience and what I thought of this popular Halloween event. Read on to learn all about Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando Resort!

In this post, we provide a guide to Express Pass at Universal Orlando. This “skip the line” system promises you access to shorter waits, but it comes at a hefty price. Read on to learn everything you need to know about Universal Orlando’s Express Pass system!

This post includes a guide to all the rides at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, one of two parks at Universal Orlando Resort. It also includes a personal ranking of the best rides at the park and our tips for fitting each ride into your day. Read on to learn all about your ride options at Universal’s Islands of Adventure!

In this post, we’re going to discuss everything you need to know about visiting Harry Potter world as part of your Disney World vacation. We’ll start with the basics—like what the land is actually called and where it’s located—before diving into how you should go about preparing for and planning your day visit. Read on to learn all about visiting Harry Potter world from Disney World!

Loews Portofino Bay Hotel is one of Universal Orlando’s “Signature Collection” hotels. It’s meant to be among the best of the best of what they have to offer. We saw a great rate on a room as part of an annual passholder discount, and we just could pass up the chance to stay at this high-end option. Read on to see how our time at Portofino Bay Hotel went!

In this post, we discuss rope drop at Universal’s Islands of Adventure park at Universal Orlando Resort. We cover how to start your day at Islands of Adventure, including whether you should start with the new Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure and what to expect if you do or don’t start with it. Read on to learn everything about the morning hours at Islands of Adventure!

Universal’s Aventura Hotel is one of Universal Orlando’s newest hotels. This “prime value” hotel offers sleek, modern design and access to Early Park Admission at a reasonable price. Want to know whether a stay at Aventura might be right for you? Read on to find out!

In this post, I review the Universal Orlando SuperStar Shuttle between Orlando International Airport (MCO) and the Universal hotels. I’ll discuss what’s included, how to book the shuttle, my experience, and some alternatives you might consider. Read on to learn all about this option for getting between MCO and Universal Orlando!

Welcome to our Universal Orlando Resort summer 2019 trip report! This post covers my trip home and some thoughts on Universal Orlando Resort.

Welcome to our Universal Orlando Resort summer 2019 trip report! This post covers a day without Express Pass, split between the two parks, with a ton of EPIC fails.

Welcome to our Universal Orlando Resort summer 2019 trip report! This post covers a day at Islands of Adventure, including rope drop to The Incredible Hulk Coaster.

Welcome to our Universal Orlando Resort summer 2019 trip report! This post covers rope drop to Hagrid’s followed by a day with Universal Express Pass.

Welcome to our Universal Orlando Resort summer 2019 trip report! This post covers a day at Universal Studios Florida with Early Park Admission.

Welcome to our Universal Orlando Resort summer 2019 trip report! This post covers my arrival and race to the gate to activate my annual pass!

Welcome to our Universal Orlando Resort summer 2019 trip report! This post focuses on booking the trip, including how I hacked my way to over $230 in savings.