“Enjoy these days. It all goes so fast.”
That’s what a lovely, well-coiffed older woman said to me during my first visit to Universal Orlando Resort in 2014. My kids were aged 7, 5, 4 and 2 and were crawling over me on the shuttle bus back to the hotel after a decadently long day at the parks. As sweat rolled down my back, my first reaction was a side-eye. “Enjoy?” I thought. “How?”
But then I remembered the flash of delight on my toddler’s face meeting a towering Transformer robot earlier and how I laughed as my older one hid behind my legs. I realized my mindset mattered, and I chose to enjoy this experience. My husband and I spent the rest of our vacation pushing double strollers, swapping kids to go on the roller coasters, and skipping through Seuss Landing with our brood. We left the theme park with a heart full of memories. It was hard, and we had fun.
As the Kids Grew, Traveling Got Easier.
When we revisited Universal Orlando Resort a few years later, we no longer needed a stroller. We didn’t carry a diaper bag or a plastic pouch full of wipes and extra clothes (IYKYK). Our older kids wanted to ride the big coasters, and thanks to our tall genes, we didn’t have any height restriction issues. Rides like Revenge of the Mummy and Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts became favorites. We finally spent more time on rides instead of at Childcare Services.
As the kids became tweens and teens, our vacations became a little more relaxing, a little less chaotic. When we visited in 2021, all the kids could swim independently at the Universal Cabana Bay Beach Resort pool. I breathed easier in a lounge chair while the kids frolicked nearby.
In 2023, my four got even more independent. They pushed us to be rope-droppers (thanks to our Early Park Admission from staying at a Universal Orlando hotel!) and stay until the last firework was finished. They made us laugh with their viral social media dances and begged to meet up with school friends they saw were also vacationing at Universal.
The Days Were Long, but the Years Were Short.
Time was moving at warp speed. My daughter and three sons were once so little, and all of a sudden, they were teenagers. In 2025, my oldest was graduating from high school, and my 18 summers with her were ending. I decided it was time for one more incredible family vacation to celebrate this important milestone.
I made a plan for the six of us to spend a week at Universal Orlando Resort the summer before my daughter moved 700 miles away for college. The recent opening of Universal Epic Universe, the first new theme park in Orlando in ages, was another fantastic excuse. The kids were 18, 16, 15 and 13, and they were authentically thrilled about this vacation. I was, too!
I wanted it to be perfect, so I included several splurges and special events. We stayed at Signature Collection hotels, including Loews Royal Pacific Resort and Universal Helios Grand Hotel, a Loews Hotel. We took advantage of the hotel perks, including Early Park Admission and Universal Express Unlimited passes that let us enjoy shorter wait times. We upgraded to club-level rooms, which was a game-changer with four independently-minded teenagers. (Honestly, the plethora of food and drinks offered throughout the day in the Club Lounge were a huge money-saver.)
Universal Orlando delivered non-stop fun! We spent our days riding all the roller coasters, casting spells with the newest Second-Generation Interactive Wands in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and eating our way through all four theme parks. We capped our trip at the Wantilan Luau, a bucket-list-worthy evening of authentic Polynesian food and Hawaiian entertainment at Loews Royal Pacific Resort, which takes place on Saturdays. It was fantastic.
But Striving for Perfection May Have Kept Me From Being Present.
I wanted everyone to be happy and create lasting memories, but I was silently devastated at the thought that my role as a mom would be changing. I worried that I didn’t do enough for my kids, that I didn’t give them enough of the awe-inspiring Universal Orlando-type memories. Was I the kind of mom I didn’t have, but always wanted to be? This family trip seemed like my last chance to be the mother hen to all my little chicks. But then a funny thing happened.
As we sped through the spectacular Epic Universe, having only one day in the theme park, my daughter said, “Next time, let’s make sure we have two days here so we can spend more time in Dark Universe.”
Next time…
Later in the week, at Universal Volcano Bay, my oldest son offhandedly mentioned, “When we come back, I want to ride Krakatau Aqua Coaster and sit in the front.”
When we come back…
Then my youngest was clicking around the Universal website and said, “Can we stay at Portofino Bay Hotel when we return? Their pool is next-level!”
When we return….
Next time.
When we come back.
When we return.
It Hit Me Like a Tornado: Our Kids Don’t Want These Trips to End!
This wasn’t our final family trip! I don’t get fired from parenting after 18 summers. Our adventures won’t finish just because they go off to college.
I realized that our family vacations would evolve over the years, but that we would still vacation together. In the future, we may have to schedule trips between exams and new jobs. We may have to be flexible with dinner reservations and allow room for opinions and other commitments. Perhaps we will include their future partners, or even their own children! Suddenly, this “last” trip seems more like the beginning of things than it does the end.
I’ve realized that as long as there are fantastic places to visit, like Universal Orlando Resort, our kids will still want to come. Our kids will still want to hang out with us, to vacation with us. They may not remember all the details of our incredible Universal holidays, but they will remember how they felt on them. When they look back, they will remember laughter, and fun and love. Lots and lots of love.
6 Ways to Make the Most of Family Trips When Your Kids Aren’t Little Anymore
- Give yourself space and grace. Feel your feelings about your kids getting older. You can grieve that they’re no longer babies and be happy about their current stage at the same time.
- Allow time for independence. Let the teens check out Epic Universe on their own for the morning or circle back to the theme park while you rest at the end of the day. Loosen the reins. (Note: Kids under 14 must be accompanied by a guest 14 or older.)
- Splurge on something special for you. It could be a cabana rental for a day at the pool, an engraved charm bracelet souvenir, or even a solo indulgent slice of the massive Seven-Layer Chocolate Decadence cake at The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen. Go for it! You deserve it.
- Plan ahead. Give your kids the dates for your family vacation as far ahead as possible and have them confirm their commitment.
- Book separate rooms. While staying together, like when the kids were little, might be tempting, giving everyone space to spread out is a gift to everyone. Booking a suite or connecting rooms, available at many hotels within Universal Orlando Resort, might be the best of both worlds.
- Spend money on experiences over things. If you’re no longer paying for braces, baseball league fees, or tuition, spend your hard-earned money on pulling your family together for a memory-making vacation. Upgrade your experience when possible to ensure everyone is happy and comfortable. Let your kids, even when they are grown adults, feel like kids again.
How are you enjoying these days? What is your favorite family memory over the years at Universal Orlando Resort? Tell us in the comments!
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