This article was originally published in January of 2022 and then underwent extensive updates and editing in September of 2023 to remain current and relevant.
If you’ve clicked into this blog, it seems you’re looking for that Ultimate Jurassic Park and Jurassic World experience at Universal Orlando Resort. Well, you’ve come to the right place. I, myself, am a huge Jurassic Park — and now Jurassic World — fan. I grew up wishing I had a pet dinosaur in my backyard and walked down the aisle at my wedding to the classic score. Not only am I a committed Jurassic Park fan but as a Virgo, I take great joy in planning my trips and creating the perfect way to experience the theme parks. I’m excited to bring you the ultimate Jurassic Park experience in Universal Orlando Resort.
WHERE TO STAY
If you have little Jurassic World fans or dinosaur fans, I HIGHLY recommend booking a Jurassic World Kids’ Suite at Loews Royal Pacific Resort. These suites are, in my personal opinion, the COOLEST hotel rooms I’ve ever seen. The suites have a main room where adults can sleep and a conjoined room with a paddock door that opens up RIGHT into a room that looks like a scene straight out of Jurassic World. The kids even get to sleep in gyrosphere beds.
Staying at Loews Royal Pacific Resort allows you to really immerse yourself in the tropical scenery of your ultimate Jurassic World getaway. It feels as if you’ve stepped into a tropical oasis with the greenery and even a waterfall next to one of the restaurants near the pool. Another great benefit to staying at the hotel is being able to utilize Early Park Admission to get into the park up to an hour before it opens. Be amongst the first to ride Jurassic World VelociCoaster with this incredible perk. Plus you’ll get a Universal Express Unlimited pass, which lets you ride the rides with Express access, over and over again.
WHAT TO PACK
Before making your way to the park, I recommend packing light clothing to keep you cool in the Florida sun. I like to stay in the theme of Jurassic Park and wear clothes to blend into the tropical surroundings. I highly recommend wearing something you don’t mind getting wet and bringing a light rain jacket or umbrella so you’re prepared for whatever you may encounter on your Jurassic adventure. If you’ve seen the films, you know what I mean…
CHECK LIST:
- Themed Shirt
- Shorts
- Rain jacket or umbrella
- Comfortable shoes
- Small bag or fanny pack
- Camera
Need more tips on what to pack for your trip to Universal Orlando Resort? Check out our complete guide here.
CHECKING IN | LOEWS ROYAL PACIFIC RESORT
I recommend taking some time to head to the pool for some relaxation before a full day in the park and to keep immersing yourself in the tropical paradise vibe that Loews Royal Pacific Resort brings you. There’s even a little beach you can sit at if you prefer to just sit and take in the view of the lagoon.
For dinner, head over to Jake’s American Bar. The homemade pretzel rods with tangy mustard and four cheese fondue are out of this world and I highly recommend them! I’m also a big salmon gal, so I usually go with the Sixty South Antarctic Seared Salmon. It comes with a rice blend, green beans, blistered tomato and a citrus butter sauce.
I also absolutely love Orchid Court Lounge and Sushi Bar for some incredible sushi and drinks. I’m a nigiri and sake lover myself.
PRO TIP: If you get to the hotel a little early, you can always drop your bags off with luggage services and head straight to the parks.
MORNING
HEAD TO JURASSIC PARK
As you start your day at Loews Royal Pacific, you can grab a quick bite to eat at Tuk Tuk Market before taking the Water Taxi over to CityWalk. Once you’re at CityWalk, you’ll want to head toward Islands of Adventure and then make a right when you enter the park. Heading right is pretty crucial to the day as it will give you that ultimate Jurassic Park entrance. You can get to Jurassic Park by going right or left in Islands of Adventure, but I prefer right. I don’t know if it’s just me, but the music always starts to swell as I step through the archway. You can’t help but to hum along to the song.
TAKE A PHOTO WITH A SPINOSAURUS
Once you make it into that area, you’ll come across the first moment you’ll want to take a photo. To your right, you’ll find the Spinosaurus from Jurassic Park 3 peeking out from the bushes.
RIDE JURASSIC WORLD VELOCICOASTER
Head to the all-new Jurassic World VelociCoaster. It’s the incredible new roller coaster that puts you right in the middle of a Raptor paddock. The ride’s backstory places you into Jurassic World before the arrival of the Indominus Rex (right before the first Jurassic World movie). Claire Dearing has been tasked with adding more teeth to the park…. so she’s had this incredible roller coaster built. And boy, is it thrilling! 10/10 for me. I even wrote a complete guide to this ride you should definitely check out.
PLAY IN JURASSIC PARK DISCOVERY CENTER
As you exit VelociCoaster, you’ll make your way inside the Jurassic Park Discovery Center where you can take your time to explore some exclusive Jurassic World VelociCoaster merchandise and play around in this interactive play center. You can learn about dino DNA, take photos with some life size dinosaurs (my favorite dinosaur is in there), and maybe even catch a baby Velociraptor being hatched right inside the lab. This is such a great moment to stop and take in all that this area has to offer.
AFTERNOON
STOP BY BURGER DIGS/PIZZA PREDATORIA
If riding Jurassic World VelociCoaster made you work up an appetite by this point, you can grab some food over at Burger Digs. Or if burgers aren’t your thing, you can check out Pizza Predatoria on the way to your next destination.
PRO TIP: As you make your way up the stairs in Discovery Center, there will be another gift shop you can check out called Dinostore where you can actually even purchase some fossils.
SNACK AT NATURAL SELECTIONS
If you’d rather skip lunch and get some snacks instead, I’d recommend heading to Natural Selections near the entrance of Jurassic Park River Adventure for some quick bites like an absolutely delicious blue Dulce De Leche Churro, Guava Pastry (pictured) Papa Rellena, Beef Empanada (yum), Chicharrones, or you can also go with some fresh fruit like pineapple with tajin, watermelon with tajin or some simple grapes, orange or apple.
MEET VELOCIRAPTORS
Get up close and personal with Raptors at Raptor Encounter. Here you’ll meet a Raptor expert who will guide you through meeting one of the Raptors, including Blue from Jurassic World as well as a baby Raptor that comes out from time to time. You’ll have the opportunity to pose for a perfect picture and you might want a video, too. If you’re looking for a good holiday photo or even just a nice family photo, might I recommend one with a Velociraptor?
RIDE JURASSIC PARK RIVER ADVENTURE
After meeting a Velociraptor, it’s time to visit some of the other dinos on the island. This is also about the time you’ll want to prepare for a little bit of a splash. Jurassic Park River Adventure is one of my favorite rides in the park as it is a nice boat ride next to some incredible dinosaurs. But of course, it isn’t a theme park ride if it all goes according to plan. Toward the end of the ride, you’re bumped off course and end up meeting with some more Raptors before coming face to face with a Tyrannosaurus rex AND an 85 foot drop on Jurassic Park River Adventure. If you want to learn more about this ride, check out this Complete Guide to Jurassic Park River Adventure.
PRO TIP: If you want to dry off quickly, there are huge dryers you can purchase time in at the exit of the attraction or if you want to get more soaked, you can head to the side of the attraction for a huge splash zone.
PLAY IN CAMP JURASSIC
Across from Jurassic Park River Adventure is Camp Jurassic. This is a perfect place to take the little ones who have a lot of energy. It is a mult-level, prehistoric playground with dark caves, amber mines, climb dinosaur-capture nets, and swaying suspension bridges. Listen close for the roar of dinosaurs!
This is also home to an exclusive attraction at Universal Orlando Resort called Pteranodon Flyers. This ride is perfect for the little ones as they soar high above Jurassic Park on a slow moving ride. The kids are buckled in and lifted up in the air with their feet dangling as they smoothly glide over Jurassic Park. For this two-seater ride, an adult must ride behind with a child so if you aren’t visiting with a child under 48 inches, you won’t be able to ride this attraction. But if you’re able to, it’s an absolute blast. My 4-year-old nephew absolutely loved taking turns with me and my sister as he took in the views of Jurassic Park.
PRO TIP: If you do have little ones who aren’t tall enough for Jurassic World VelociCoaster or Jurassic Park River Adventure, I’d recommend doing your own version of child swap. One adult can take the little ones to Camp Jurassic while the other adults ride Jurassic World VelociCoaster and Jurassic Park River Adventure. It’s a great way to let the kids run around and let out some energy. (Each attraction does have their own child swaps if you prefer to stay together all day.)
CHECK OUT JURASSIC OUTFITTERS
Camp Jurassic is located across from the exit gift shop to Jurassic Park River Adventure, Jurassic Outfitters and while my nephew rode with my sister, I ran inside the store to buy him a little dinosaur plush that he absolutely loved. I also personally love the merchandise we offer in the stores. You can see a shirt we have for sale in some of the photos in this blog. I’m sporting the yellow “They Were Here First” tank top. I also have the cutest Jurassic World cup that I love to put my morning coffee in as I head to the parks. For more details about the merchandise, you can check out this blog.
Another fun thing to do in this area is challenge your family to a little rock climbing with an amazing view of the splash down at Jurassic Park River Adventure.
EVENING
DINNER AT THUNDER FALLS TERRACE
By this point, it might be close to a late lunch or early dinner and I highly recommend eating at Thunder Falls Terrace. It is located right across from the splash on Jurassic Park River Adventure and I think it has some of the best food in the whole park. My go- to is an amazing rotisserie chicken salad with fresh green vegetables and citrus vinaigrette. The perfect amount of food to still have room for a Dulce De Leche Churro or Guava Pastry from Natural Selections after. They also have some unique offerings like a big turkey leg platter or Pernil.
TAKE A PHOTO WITH THE TREX
Once you’re finished eating at Thunder Falls Terrace there’s an opportunity for another great family photo with the dinosaur looming from the bushes.
THE WATERING HOLE
By this point, you’ve made it to the other side of Jurassic Park but instead of going home, I recommend heading back toward Jurassic World VelociCoaster for a second ride on the thrilling coaster and ending your day with a tropical drink from The Watering Hole. They even have an exclusive beer made for Jurassic Park called the Isla Nubar IPA. I personally love the Bird of Paradise drink that comes in a souvenir tiki cup. It’s a great way to end the day before grabbing some more merch on your way out for the day.
What are you most excited to experience in Jurassic Park? Let us know in the comments!
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