I first visited Universal Orlando Resort a little later in life than most people. But since that first trip in 2014, I’ve been making up for lost time: I’ve never missed a new attraction opening and have assembled a very personal hit list of favorite rides and shows that keep me coming back, like a theme park homing pigeon.
My wife Laura, meanwhile, has never been, and never really expressed a huge interest in joining me. She’d listen to my Universal enthusiasm with a polite, indulgent smile — the kind you’d reserve for someone with a very niche hobby. When I finally convinced her to come on the ultimate Universal adventure in 2025 — four parks in one week — I was both thrilled and a little nervous. This was the big test. Would it live up to the hype… or would I spend the days justifying why this line was absolutely, definitely worth it?
From rollercoasters to pool days, here’s how we spent a full week at Universal Orlando Resort…and how the parks won themselves a new fan:
- Spending a week at Universal Orlando Resort means experiencing thrilling rides, immersive worlds and brilliant shows, along with plenty of time to chill by the hotel pool and relax.
- If you’re short on time or flying in from overseas, consider purchasing a Universal Express Pass to take advantage of shorter wait times and enjoy more attractions during your visit. Universal Express Unlimited passes are included with your stay in select Universal hotels.
- If your visit includes a night at Halloween Horror Nights, an R.I.P. Tour is another great way to make use of your limited time. Your guide will take you through all of the haunted houses, scare zones, and live entertainment.
Jump to:
UNIVERSAL EPIC UNIVERSE | UNIVERSAL STUDIOS FLORIDA | UNIVERSAL ISLANDS OF ADVENTURE | UNIVERSAL HOTELS | UNIVERSAL VOLCANO BAY
Day One: Universal Epic Universe
Top rides
- Stardust Racers (day and night — both essential)
- Mine-Cart Madness in at SUPER NINTENDO WORLD
- Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry
Top eats
- Flora Taverna at Universal Helios Grand Hotel
Top surprises
- How emotional and beautiful the shows were
- Dark Universe after dark — genuinely atmospheric
First Impressions Start at the Hotel
We flew into Orlando from Ireland and made our way to Universal Helios Grand Hotel, a Loews Hotel, our first-night home. Our check-in experience set the tone straight away. Everything felt warm, relaxed, and genuinely welcoming, with Team Members who couldn’t have been friendlier. Laura was even offered a first-time visitor badge, a sweet reminder that theme parks are for leaning into the fun, whatever your age.
The room — in particular our view over Universal Epic Universe — was spectacular, and the hotel’s location made everything feel easy. We stayed in a Club-level room on the ninth floor and that sealed the deal; the Club lounge offered breakfast in the mornings, drinks and light bites in the evenings, and a calm retreat from the noise below.
Stepping Into Epic Universe
We kicked things off in Universal’s newest park, Epic Universe. The visuals alone are worth the price of admission: a neo-Byzantine dreamscape with Art Nouveau curves and a hint of traveling carnival energy. And that’s just Celestial Park.
First impressions were a huge success. Laura is a primary school teacher, so she’s well-versed in childhood wonder, and she leaned into the magic of it all right away. Multigenerational families in matching T-shirts. Those instantly recognizable tunes floating through the air. She loved how it taps directly into that simpler, more innocent kind of joy. And that was before she even got on a ride.
Early Park Admission and the Stardust Racers Test
Staying at Helios Grand Hotel (Universal’s first in-park hotel in the U.S.) came with major perks: a dedicated entrance straight into the theme park and Early Park Admission, which allowed us to experience select attractions an hour before opening. For us, that meant making a beeline for Stardust Racers as soon as we got in. I gave Laura a small warning as we sprinted to get in line for the green side: this might be “a little fast.” I didn’t mention the 62-mph top speed or the zero-G inversion at the end. Details, details.
You know that slightly unsteady, fizzy feeling when your adrenaline is maxed out and your blood is pumping faster than usual? For me, that’s the gold standard of a great coaster, and, as it turned out, Laura enjoyed it too. So much so that we did it again later that night, in the dark, but this time chose the yellow side.
PRO TIP: Laura later revealed the ride helped her develop a personal system for judging future attractions. Over-the-shoulder restraints and mandatory lockers? Brace yourself. Lap belts and keeping your backpack? Much friendlier.
A Quick Express Pass Reality Check
Quick tip: if you’re short on time or flying in from overseas (both true for us), a Universal Express Pass is absolutely worth it. One of the biggest upgrades to the whole experience is the photo validation used for Express entry. It’s smooth, fast and genuinely cuts down the waiting. As a first-timer, I was surprised by how easy and friction-free it all felt.
From Dragons to Donkey Kong
If Celestial Park set a high bar, the themed worlds easily cleared it. How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk was an instant hit. We both loved Hiccup’s Wing Gliders (for me, it had a similar energy as Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, but more on that later).
SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, split between Super Mario Land and Donkey Kong Country, is impossible not to get swept up in. Mine-Cart Madness was a standout, while Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge really got our competitive juices going; within a minute we were both locked in, desperately trying to outscore each other.
Matching T-Shirts and a Small Victory
And yes, we absolutely left with matching T-shirts. (Laura, who for years had eye-rolled every time I brought home whatever bits of swag I gathered on previous trips, insisted on it: a major win).
PRO TIP: Thanks to the complimentary merch delivery service, you don’t have to carry your souvenirs around all day; they can be delivered straight to your room free of charge!
Explore 1920s Wizarding Paris
Next up was The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, the newest land in the wizarding world. It blends both the original “Harry Potter” film series with the “Fantastic Beasts” era, leaning into 1920s wizarding Paris and a sense of old-world European grandeur.
Seeing the Magic Through Someone Else’s Eyes
The first time I visited The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, I was completely floored. Even without being a “Harry Potter” superfan, the wizarding world always fills me with wonder. I’ve tried explaining it to Laura so many times — the scale, the beauty, the obsessive attention to detail — but it’s one of those things that doesn’t really translate. Until you see it.
Experiencing Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry
Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry is a bit gentler than other thrill rides, but it’s deeply immersive, right from the moment you travel by Métro-Floo and make your way into the British Ministry — and that’s before you even get in the line itself. Laura was blown away by it all. Finally, she got what I was talking about for all these years!
When the Shows Steal the Spotlight
As an avid Universalist (yes, I think I can say that) my expectations for the rides are always going to be pretty high. But the shows? The shows were something else.
Le Cirque Arcanus in wizarding Paris starts in a circus tent before moving past sideshow booths and towards the main stage for a visually stunning, beautifully told story. It was unexpectedly emotional! When smoke-filled bubbles drifted down from the ceiling, close enough to pop, we gasped audibly…it was just so pretty!
The Untrainable Dragon in Isle of Berk leans even harder into spectacle. The puppets, especially the baby dragons, were superb, and when Toothless flew over the audience everyone applauded. The singing Vikings and the terrific choreography were so good that when we walked out we made a promise to watch all of the “How to Train Your Dragon” movies when we got home.
From Dragons to Darkmoor After Dark
We saved Dark Universe for just after the sun went down, which was exactly right. Locked in an eternal showdown between Victoria Frankenstein and Dracula’s vampires, Darkmoor is dripping in atmosphere and a loving nod to Universal’s classic horror roots. We even got to meet the Invisible Man, who was suitably curt when we said hello. Both rides impressed, with Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment dark and dramatic, and Curse of the Werewolf even better in the dark.
Ending Day One on a High
After dinner at Flora Taverna in Universal Helios Grand Hotel, we finished the night watching the Cosmos Fountain Show from our room, dancing water and a million LEDs providing a perfect ending to an already brilliant day.
Day Two: Universal Studios Florida
Top rides
- Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
- Revenge of the Mummy (still delivers)
Top eats
- Lombard’s Seafood Grille (huge, hearty and needed)
- Voodoo Donuts post-Halloween Horror Nights
Top surprises
- How seamless Express Pass photo validation felt
- The Bourne Stuntacular completely scrambling our brains
- The R.I.P. tour for Halloween Horror Nights — essential!
We said goodbye to Epic Universe and Universal Helios Grand Hotel and transferred to our home for the remainder of our adventure: Hard Rock Hotel. At first sight, I recognized it straight away: it looked like the cover of one of my favorite rock albums. We loved it instantly. We also loved the complimentary Universal Express Unlimited passes that came with our stay, letting us skip the regular lines at Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure.
Even though we’d been in Florida for less than 36 hours, by the time we lined up to enter Universal Studios Florida on day two, we were fully locked into theme park mode. It helps that the theme park is only a short walk away from Hard Rock Hotel!
Revenge of the Mummy might be a little old-school, but it’s one of my favorite rides, and obviously I didn’t tell Laura about the adrenalized ending. We both loved The Bourne Stuntacular show, which somehow manages to blur the line between live stunts and film so completely that your brain gives up trying to work it out. But really, it was just the warm-up — at least for Laura — before that first big reveal of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley.
The Wonder of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley
It’s hard to overstate how amazing Diagon Alley is. Walking in still feels special, and I was quietly delighted to see Laura react almost exactly the way I had the first time I stepped into The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade more than a decade ago. We even tried our luck casting spells with the Second Generation Interactive Wands from Ollivanders Wand Shop.
(I’ll admit I was hesitant about the interactive wands. But they’re brilliant. And you can cast spells all throughout the three lands of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Kids love it, adults love it, people pretending they’re too cool for it love it secretly. Including us.)
And then I casually landed us in front of Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts without saying a word. Which made Laura’s reaction even better when the Ukrainian Ironbelly dragon perched on top suddenly breathed fire.
Gringotts, Villains, and Fire-Breathing Dragons
From there, we headed into the wizarding bank and down into the vaults, plotting our escape via what is still (in my opinion) one of the best multi-dimensional attractions across all of Universal Orlando Resort’s four theme parks. And honestly, if that had been the only thing we did that day, it probably would’ve been enough.
A Very Full Afternoon
By then it was mid-afternoon, and somehow we’d already squeezed in Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast and TRANSFORMERS: The Ride 3-D, demolished a huge lunch at Lombard’s Seafood Grille, and wandered through Hollywood, New York, and San Francisco…and the day was barely half over.
Which mattered, because we were mentally and emotionally gearing up for Halloween Horror Nights.
Halloween Horror Nights: Doing the Thing She Swore She’d Never Do
A quick reality check: neither of us likes horror movies. And when I say “don’t like,” I mean actively avoid, sleep-with-the-lights-on, absolutely-not territory. That said, I’ve somehow been to Halloween Horror Nights five or six times over the years and loved every visit, despite having only the vaguest grasp of most horror franchises. Every time I tried to explain this to Laura, she looked at me like I’d completely lost the plot and said she couldn’t imagine anything worse than willingly paying to be terrified.
I gave her a genuine out. She didn’t have to do the haunted houses. She could wait, relax, live her best calm, non-screaming life while I got jump-scared by strangers. But maybe it was the full theme park momentum, or maybe she wasn’t into hanging around alone, because she surprised me and said she’d give it a go.
Then she pulled out matching Lil’ Boo T-shirts.
R.I.P. Tour, No Turning Back
The night was made even better (and scarier) by joining a R.I.P. Tour. Seeing everyone else’s outfits was half the fun, and having a personal guide (with no queues) was amazing… even if it meant doing more terrifying stuff. The guide walked us through the backstory of each house — from wandering through your own funeral to stepping inside an oversized dollhouse.
We really appreciated the craftsmanship behind it all: the sets, costumes, and all the little details. The sounds and creepy music, the smells, sudden temperature changes, bursts of air and sprays of water (or “blood”) all worked together to heighten the senses and fully immerse us in the experience.
The Scares, the Craft and the Favorites
For me, El Artista: A Spanish Haunting was the most beautiful haunted house. Gálkn: Monsters of the North was just flat-out terrifying, in the best way. Dolls: Let’s Play Dead seemed tame enough at the start but quickly delivered the frights – it’s what happens when you become a giant doll’s little plaything…
Breaking things up with a couple of rides, some drinks and a show helped bring the anxiety levels back down. The Nightmare Fuel: Circus of Decay show itself was fantastic — great music, dancing, costumes, and acrobatics. Sitting near the front and center gave us an up-close view of the performers, which made it even more impressive.
Exhausted, Terrified, and Weirdly Happy
Ten houses and four scare zones later, we were completely wiped. Adrenaline gone, voices wrecked from screaming and laughing, and only a vague sense of where we were. I loved every second of it, but Laura admitted that her enjoyment came with a thick slice of stress. For her, the crowds actually helped; moving through the houses in a steady line made things feel a little less intense, even if she still screamed her way through every one of them. It wasn’t the scare-actors that got her, though; it was the windows and doors — and the constant anticipation of a jump-scare.
We walked back to Hard Rock Hotel, which was also decked out with an HHN-themed lobby display and bar: Night of the Living Shred, complete with a photo op and themed cocktails. We opted to tuck into a box of sugary supplies from Voodoo Doughnut in Universal CityWalk — which I had bought before Halloween Horror Nights. As an HHN vet, I knew fear was hungry work.
Day Three: Universal Islands of Adventure
Top rides
- Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure
- Jurassic World VelociCoaster
Top eats
- Three Broomsticks
Top surprises
- How magical the Hogwarts Express journey feels both ways
- Seuss Landing charming a fully grown adult
I don’t really do favorites, but if you forced me to pick one theme park to loiter in indefinitely, it’d probably be Universal Islands of Adventure (although Epic Universe is a genuine threat to the throne).
Hogsmeade was the first-ever land I visited in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — and I just knew Laura would love it between the snow-capped rooftops, Hogwarts castle, and Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure.
Exploring Hogsmeade the Right Way
We went back into Universal Studios Florida, wandered over to King’s Cross Station, and walked through Platform 9 ¾ before hopping on the Hogwarts Express. The station feels like the real King’s Cross Station, right down to the London atmosphere. Any lingering confusion on Laura’s part disappeared somewhere over the English countryside, replaced by pure delight when we stepped off in Hogsmeade village.
PRO TIP: It’s a different experience depending on which way you travel. One direction allows you to walk through Platform 9¾, and the other lets you watch the train arrive. It’s about seven minutes long and a ride you can’t miss.
Whichever way you travel, it was one of our standout experiences.
Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, Twice, Because Obviously
But then we did Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. Twice. The first time, Laura took the motorbike and I rode the sidecar, and I watched her face for the reaction to the sheer beauty and fun of it all: Hagrid chatting away, seeing magical creatures, and narrative beats everywhere.
I knew this ride would be her thing. Screaming (the happy kind) at the drops, the fog, the backwards bits. It was so good we went again. Confidence high, we followed it with Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. Brilliant queue, great ride… except I’d totally forgotten that Laura is an arachnophobe. Enter one extremely large Acromantula halfway through. Ok, that little omission was on me.
A Proper British Lunch
We went for lunch in Hogsmeade. The food at the Three Broomsticks is genuinely good — Spare Ribs Platter, Shepherd’s Pie, Fish & Chips — and the best part is that it tastes authentically English. Which Laura, being English, is an excellent judge of. We were able to mobile order our food and drinks while in queue, so once we sat down the food arrived almost immediately. Very efficient indeed!
Raptors, Coasters, and Controlled Chaos
After lunch, we made our way over to Jurassic Park. First stop: meet a Raptor. Raptor Encounter is genuinely impressive. The dinosaurs are incredibly realistic, slightly cheeky, and very chatty. If you’re scared of dinosaurs, this will ruin your day. If not, it’s a brilliant little moment.
We got another close look at those impressively lifelike Raptors while queuing for Jurassic World VelociCoaster, which is a ride that makes its intentions very clear from the start. You can’t bring anything on with you — phone, wallet, sunglasses, the lot goes into a locker — and there are metal detectors to make sure you’ve understood the assignment. This thing is serious about going fast.
The theming is spot on, with Raptors that genuinely look like they’re breathing, and there’s a strong anti-captivity message running through it that mirrors the films nicely. Despite the speed, it was less overwhelming than we’d expected. Even the upside-down moments over the water were just… pure fun. Still, probably not one to tackle straight after lunch if you can help it, though.
Beloved Classics That Still Work
Skull Island: Reign of Kong is a completely different vibe. A dark ride with jungle scenery and clever temperature changes, it’s more about spectacle than scares, unless giant apes or dinosaurs are your personal nightmare, in which case, fair warning.
And The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man? Still fantastic. Laura especially loved the 4-D chaos, from the blast of heat from Doc Ock’s blowtorch to Hydro-Man soaking everyone at exactly the right moment. It’s energetic, a little ridiculous, and holds up beautifully.
One very pleasant surprise was a wander through Seuss Landing, which really tapped into Laura’s teacher-of-small-humans side. She really loved it and really embraced the family-friendly energy of it all — it felt like a childhood book you never quite grew out of.
The Wonder of Hogwarts Always
At nightfall, we hung around for the Hogwarts Always show in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade that lit up the sky above Hogwarts castle. We both knew we’d had the most magical of days.
Day Four: No Plans, Pool
Top rides
- Floating
- Swimming
- Walking from cabana to pool
Top eats
- Chicken tenders with an unapologetic amount of BBQ sauce
- Dinner at The Kitchen Restaurant
Top surprises
- Underwater sound system at the pool
- Outdoor movies by the pool at night
Spending full days in theme parks is more marathon than sprint — the step count climbs, the adrenaline spikes and by sundown your legs are quietly negotiating terms. Even the hardiest of hardcore theme park fans need a break, and thankfully ours was waiting downstairs at the Hard Rock Hotel. Poolside beckoned and we happily answered.
This is very much a claim-your-lounger-and-stay-put kind of pool. We leveled up with a standard private cabana, complete with a fridge and a TV — although the TV felt wildly optimistic given our actual intentions (useful for kids, I imagine). What followed was the perfect amount of chill: DJs, proper party music — none of that whispery background stuff — food, drinks and plenty of space to swim, eat or lie there doing absolutely nothing. It’s lively without tipping into chaos, like a pool party that knows exactly what it’s doing.
Turn It Up
Without really noticing, we found ourselves singing along to every song. The soundtrack leans confidently into crowd-pleasers — big, familiar tunes you recognise within three seconds — turned up just enough to give the place a buzz. You’re not analysing the playlist, you’re bobbing along with a drink in hand… or singing underwater, because yes, they have an underwater sound system.
Poolside Comfort Food
When hunger hit, the menu kept things reassuringly classic: fish tacos, burgers and — my all-time favourite poolside order — chicken tenders, served with a properly generous amount of barbecue sauce. Even the menus join in, shaped like records bent in half, which feels perfectly on brand.
PRO TIP: Keep half an eye on your snacks. The squirrels have fully clocked the situation, are completely fearless and will happily help themselves if given the chance.
California Cool, Day to Night
Design-wise, everything at Hard Rock nods to California cool — think Santa Barbara energy with a rock-and-roll twist. It looks great, photographs beautifully and never takes itself too seriously. When the sun goes down, they even roll out movies on a huge screen, which is undeniably cool.
Dinner, Then a Nightcap
Come dinnertime, we sauntered all of 10 steps to The Kitchen Restaurant and were met with portions so large we felt compelled to apologize for leaving half of them. We’re European — we’re just not built for that level of ambition. A nightcap in the Velvet Bar followed, which felt like the only proper way to end a perfectly lazy day.
Day Five: Universal Volcano Bay
Top rides
- Krakatau Aqua Coaster
- Ko’okiri Drop Plunge
- TeAwa Fearless River (on repeat)
Top eats
- Cabana-delivered lunch (sushi, tenders, pizza — zero regrets)
- Mocktail piña coladas
- Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar in CityWalk
Top surprises
- How calm and resort-like Volcano Bay feels
- How perfectly the week ended at a slower pace
Poolside to Island Time
After three straight days of high-octane rides, queues and full-throttle sensory overload, the slow pace of the pool felt like a gentle reset. Limbs loosened, volume lowered, energy restored. So for our last full day at Universal, we leaned fully into that calmer rhythm and quietly escaped to a Polynesian island that just happens to sit beyond the gates of Universal Volcano Bay, only a quick (and complimentary) shuttle ride away from our hotel.
Slowing Everything Way Down
The vibe does a lot of the work for you. From the second you walk in, everything shifts down a gear. Gentle music, lush planting, and that first proper look at Krakatau looming over the horizon — it’s genuinely impressive and instantly calming. Yes, it’s a water theme park, but it’s very deliberately designed to slow you down rather than wind you up.
The layout helps. The walkways are wide, winding and shaded, more like a resort than a collection of slides stitched together. Even just wandering around feels relaxed, which is not something you can say about every theme park experience.
The Express Pass wristbands turned out to be a quiet joy. No lockers, no pockets, no frantic patting of swimwear trying to remember where you put things. Just tap and go.
The Cabana Was the Real MVP
Our private cabana was the real game-changer. Right beside the volcano, it made getting to rides ridiculously easy, while also giving us a proper base to retreat to. A fridge, a safe, and a welcome plate of pastries and fruit immediately nudged the day firmly into holiday mode. Our server, Steven, was an absolute star: friendly, laid-back, and utterly unflappable. Nothing was ever a problem.
Slides, Rivers, and Excellent Life Choices
Laura took the sensible route into the day, easing herself in with a gentle float around the Kopiko Wai Winding River. I, meanwhile, did what I always do and went straight for the dramatic options, starting with Ko’okiri Drop Plunge and then Ohyah and Ohno. The only downside was the repeated climb back up the volcano afterward, which is excellent for character building and less excellent for the legs.
Lunch was ordered straight to the cabana (sushi, chicken tenders, chips and pizza) and eaten in full swimwear comfort. After that, we tackled the Krakatau Aqua Coaster and loved it. Plenty of dips, big splashes and reassuring confirmation that it’s perfectly survivable even on a full stomach.
The TeAwa Fearless River was the surprise highlight. Warm, fast-flowing and punctuated by sudden tidal waves and rapids, it was so much fun we floated a half dozen times before calling it. After that, we diverged. I went back for more drop slides, while Laura headed for the cabana and a mocktail piña colada. Honestly, both felt like excellent life choices.
Ending Where We Started
On our final night, we wandered back to CityWalk for dinner at Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar — poke bowl for me, Tropical Storm Roll for Laura, both excellent — followed by a film at my favourite cinema in the world, Cinemark, where every seat reclines and the popcorn hits that perfect butter sweet spot. After the movie, we strolled slowly back along the canal to our hotel, warm air, low lights and that quiet end-of-holiday feeling settling in.
It felt like the right way to close the loop. Five days that somehow managed to pack in headline rides, immersive worlds, genuinely brilliant shows, a proper horror baptism, two very good pools and more than a few moments of unexpected calm. Epic Universe and Universal Helios Grand Hotel set the tone with pure spectacle, Islands of Adventure delivered the thrills, Universal Studios Florida brought the nostalgia (and the screams), Hard Rock Hotel provided the reset button and Volcano Bay sent us home floating rather than sprinting.
Most importantly, the big question was answered. It didn’t just live up to the hype — it converted a sceptic. Laura left with favorite rides, strong opinions on restraint systems, a soft spot for Hagrid and a wardrobe addition she once swore she’d never own. I left quietly vindicated.
A bittersweet kind of happiness, then. One of the best weeks we’ve ever had, coming to a close. We could check out any time we liked. We just didn’t really want to leave.