First-Time Visit to Universal Orlando Resort

Welcome!

I have a new kind of video and post for you today… Remember when I took a trip to Walt Disney World and tested out using a VIP tour guide to visit all four of the parks in one day? (If not, you can check out all the details of that visit here.)

Not long after that trip completed, I headed over to Universal Orlando Resort for my first visit since being a toddler. So, really, it was very much like my first visit ever! Over three days, I toured Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, and even had a little look at Volcano Bay!

You can take a look at all that this trip encompassed in my latest video about the trip.

I won’t go into great detail here about everything that I experienced and all that Universal Orlando offers. There is just so much! However, I do want to cover our resort, the main differences between Universal Studios and Islands of Adventures, and some exceptional experiences I enjoyed.

Universal’s Endless Summer Dockside Inn and Suites

We were invited to stay at Universal’s new resort, Endless Summer Dockside Inn and Suites. This is a sister resort to the soon-opening Seaside Inn and Suites. There are so many great spaces here and it presents itself as a solid budget choice.

The lobby area had multiple amenities and shops, including a very convenient Starbucks right in the middle of the lobby. Off to the side is a lounge area, a bar, and dining options just around the corner. All easily accessible.

Possibly my most favorite part of this resort was the pool. Food and drink options were available at the pool bar. More than that though, there was a sandy sitting area to lounge. I know some do not like this option, but it makes it all the more relaxing to me!

Universal Studios

My first stop was Universal Studios. The parks are so close together though, you can hop between parks easily. You day doesn’t have to be confined to one, provided you purchase a park-to-park ticket. Let me first say that the bus system from the resorts to CityWalk (the entry point to the parks which also includes shopping and dining) was phenomenal! They were so on top of making sure the lines did not get too long and that buses were readily available. Excellent job there.

For those who may be considering visiting these parks, I want to break down some of the differences for you.

Universal Studios has a strong Old Hollywood feel. There are quite a few streets and areas that evoke that retro ambiance. If you are a fan of that time period, you will love it here! Many of the rides veer toward that studio focus. This is the older of the two neighboring parks, though the Wizarding World of Harry Potter here was more recently built than Islands of Adventures’.

Some of my favorite rides here were Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, Jimmy Fallon: Race through New York, and The Revenge of the Mummy. Each of them had unexpected aspects to them that I truly enjoyed and found myself talking about them later. That Revenge of the Mummy ride…yeah. I was not expecting that and it was marvelous!

Now, for the part that so many want to know…The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Universal Studios Orlando is the home of Diagon Alley. What’s amazing is as you are walking through the park, you could almost walk right by the area—becuase it is somewhat hidden just as it is in the story. Once you enter though, there’s no mistaking where you are. Gringott’s Bank stands as the focal point of the alley, a fire-breathing dragon clinging to the rooftop.

Various shops and restaurants, such as The Leaky Cauldron and Ollivanders, make an appearance here as well. These aspects bring the whole experience together for the best opportunities to explore and live within the world of Harry Potter.

Here, you will find Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts. The creatives behind this attraction really nailed it. The adventure, cameos of characters, and story-telling covered everything that you could want out of a ride like this.

Universal’s Islands of Adventure

I am not going to lie…this is definitely my favorite park. The story-telling and details are next level in comparison to Universal Studios. Entering the park, you get this beautiful, magical port town feeling. The buildings, storefronts, and decor all speak to this atmosphere that sets the tone for the rest of your journey. Even as you are entering, there is a etching in some rockwork above you that reads, “The Adventure Begins.”

The most prominent sections of this park are named…

• Marvel Super Hero Island

• Toon Lagoon

• Jurassic Park

• Wizarding World of Harry Potter

• The Lost Continent

• Suess Landing

Each of these have such great theming and I found something in each area that I really loved. Suess Landing might very well be my favorite. I discovered the High in the Sky Trolley Ride and fell in love with the views and smoothness of the ride. Such fun!

Of course, the Velocicoaster is making its technical runs right now. I opted not to ride it. (I have previously done rollercoasters with only a lap bar that also go upsidedown and it is definitely not for me.) Anthony, however, experienced it and gave rave reviews as a rollercoaster fan!

Lastly, this park is the home of Hogsmeade. The School of Wizardry and Witchcraft sits atop a distant cliff, overlooking the rest of the town. Venturing into this cavernous building wil bring you to Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. I thoroughly enjoyed this attraction! Possibly more so than the newer attraction in Universal Studios—Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts.

The rest of this world includes an incredibly immersive Three Broomsticks, The Owl post, and even Honeydukes. And of course, a place to get butterbeer. Mmmmmm. Butterbeer… I so wish there was a place newar me where I could quickly grab a frozen butterbeer, but I digress….

Memorable Moments

Did I mention the Butterbeer?

Oh, sorry. Yes, moving on.

During this pandemic, so many have missed the character interactions and being able to hug, high-five, and pose with them. While it may not be the same, I have still experienced some really great moments with these characters, albiet from afar.

My favorite experience by far was meeting Captain America. He happened to ask me where I was from and I did the whole, “Kind of everywhere. I’m currently living in Virginia, but I grew up in South Korea.” (You’d think after years of answering this question that I would have a smoother answer.) I started to turn to grab a selfie since there was a line forming and he stopped me to say, “Oh! Were you in Seoul?” …… This was a new answer for me. Ha! I turned back to say I was about an hour outside of Seoul. He then asked if I had visited the DMZ. What?! How cool. We chatted just a bit more about South Korea and adventuring around the world. All while physically-distanced!

Truly it was the best interaction and quite possibly my favorite. There were characters all around the park to chat with and snag some pictures, but yeah. The Captain America encounter was the best.

Also, I mentioned this before now, but I really did love the High in the Sky Trolley Ride. The Suess storytelling throughout the attraction made it such a joy to experience. I found myself pointing and poking Anthony to show him little details that I discovered. Like all the shirts with the name “Dave” on them for the mother who named all her sons Dave…and when she called for one they all came running! Just too fun!

Honestly, there were so many details about these parks that I adored. I plan to share more in the future, but for now, there is the overview for you. I hope it is helpful and maybe gives you a little nudge to visit these parks as well. You will have some wonderful memories made here!