So you’ve decided to visit Universal Studios Orlando, but you’re not sure where to stay. There are many choices to choose from, so it can be a tough choice. I wanted to give you five tips to help make that choice a little easier.
- First, decide how much time you will be spending in your room and at your resort. If you really only plan to sleep there, then you may not want to pay for extra amenities, pools, etc. that a more expensive resort can offer. If this is the case, you may want to look at one of the newer Endless Summer resorts. Or if you plan to take a day off from the parks, then make sure your resort has places to hang out and enjoy yourself on that day off. Then you may want to look at Portofino Bay, Hard Rock or Cabana Bay.
- Now, decide on how you want to get to the parks each day. If you want to be able to walk to the parks, you’ll want to stay at the Hard Rock resort. This resort is closest to the two main Universal parks, and you’ll easily be able to walk there each day. If you want to enjoy the relaxing ride of a water taxi, then you will want to choose Portofino Bay, Hard Rock, Royal Pacific or Sapphire Falls. And if you want to be able to walk to the Volcano Bay water park, then be sure to choose Cabana Bay.
- The next thing to consider is the theme of your room. Each Universal resort has a different theme, and a different vibe. If you’re looking for old-world Italian style, then look no further than Portofino Bay! If you want more of a Polynesian atmosphere, then Royal Pacific is your choice. If you want a sleek, modern resort, then Adventura is the one for you! And if you like the retro feel, then you need to stay at Cabana Bay.
- If you’re looking for a little bit more room to spread out, then you’ll want to look at one of the family suites that some of the Universal resorts offer. These suites have rooms for parents to enjoy, but the kids’ rooms are what really make these suites amazing! Royal Pacific offers the Jurassic Park suite for dinosaur lovers, Portofino Bay has the Despicable Me suite for your little Minions, and Hard Rock offers the Future Rock Star suites for music lovers. Sapphire Falls has a kids’ suite as well with a fun island theme. Cabana Bay and Endless Summer resorts also offer suites for larger families, but these suites have the same theme as their standard rooms.
- The final tip is one of my favorites. You’ll need to consider when you visit Universal Studios, and if you want to take advantage of their Unlimited Express Pass. This pass allows you to skip the lines in almost all of the most popular attractions at the two main parks, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. If you are visiting in the summer or the holidays, then I definitely recommend using the Unlimited Express Pass. If you stay at a Universal Premier Resort, then you will get the added bonus of the Unlimited Express Pass for FREE! This pass can be added to any Universal tickets but can cost $59 to over $99 per person per day! So you can see that can quickly add up for a family of four! So if you want to use the Unlimited Express Pass, then you’ll definitely want to stay at the Premier resorts, which are Portofino Bay, Hard Rock or Royal Pacific, to get this added benefit.
People often ask me what my favorite Universal resort is. I may have a favorite, but my goal is to find the perfect resort for your family! That’s just one of the benefits of working with a Wishes & Dreams Travel Consultant. We have the expertise and knowledge to find the perfect resort for your next visit. We are here to listen to your wants and needs and plan a dream vacation just for YOU!
