If you are like many others who have never visited the Universal Orlando Resort before, you are probably reading this and wondering, "4 days at Universal Orlando? Is there really THAT much to do there? I can't imagine spending more than one day at Universal!" Don't worry, it's a common misconception, so you are definitely not alone.
I'm here to show you that YES, you can spend 4 epic days at Universal Orlando Resort and still not accomplish everything. With 2 theme parks, 1 water park, 8 onsite resorts and a lively entertainment and dining district, Universal Orlando Resort has so much to offer guests of all ages!
Here is an example of an ultimate 4 day itinerary for your next epic trip:
Day #1
The Wizarding World
of Harry Potter
After spending your first night at one of the convenient onsite Universal Orlando Resorts, grab your early admission ticket to enter The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. To beat the crowds, you'll want to start your day with rides like:
Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure
Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
Flight of the Hippogriff
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
Make sure you are equipped with a park-to-park ticket so you can experience both Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley and travel between these two magical lands via the Hogwarts Express.
Don't forget every wizard needs a wand! You'll want to make a trip to Ollivanders for an interactive experience to see a wand choose its wizard. You may even be selected to participate!
Then, you can practice your spell casting to create amazing magical experiences throughout Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley.
For lunch, make your way to Leaky Cauldron or Three Broomsticks and then grab a butter beer for a refreshing drink.
Now that you have refueled, spend your afternoon and evening experiencing some of the other Universal Studios Florida and Universal's Islands of Adventure attractions like:
Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
Jurassic World VelociCoaster
The Incredible Hulk Coaster
The Cat in the Hat
E.T. Adventure
Finish your evening with dinner at one of the Universal Resort restaurants or quick-service dining locations.
Day #2
Universal's Volcano Bay
Grab that early admission ticket again, put on your swimwear and head over to Universal's Volcano Bay where you can live the carefree island lifestyle. This immersive waterpark has everything you would expect and so much more:
Thrill water slides
Wave pool
Lazy river
Family-style rafts
Cabana rentals
Interactive surprises
One of my favorite parts about Universal's Volcano Bay is that you don't have to climb stairs while carrying up rafts for you and your kids.
Plus, everyone who enters the park will receive a Tapu Tapu wrist wearable allowing you to sign in to the virtual lines, activate interactive surprises, open rental lockers, make cash-free payments and more.
Day #3
Resort Day and
Universal's City Walk
After two active days, it's time to sleep in before spending a relaxing day at your Universal resort. Grab a delicious breakfast at one of the onsite resort restaurants or order room service. Then, unwind poolside with a tropical drink. Today is also a great day to check out the other Universal Resort amenities and activities like:
Galaxy Bowl, Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort indoor bowling alley
Musica della Notte, pop-opera singer performance at Loews Portofino Bay Resort
Authentic rock-n-roll memorabilia at the Hard Rock Hotel Orlando
For evening activities, make your way to Universal City Walk to dine at one of the lively restaurants. Watch the volcano erupt at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville or sing along with Pat O'Brien's piano performers.
After dinner, you can enjoy everything else Universal City Walk has to offer:
Nightlife entertainment including concerts, karaoke and movies
Mini-golf at the Hollywood Drive-In Golf
Tasty VooDoo Doughnuts
Dessert at Toothsome Chocolate Emporium
Day #4
Back to
Universal Studios and
Islands of Adventure
With so many attractions, shows and entertainment, there will be so much more to do when you return for another day at Universal Studios Florida and Universal's Islands of Adventure. Here's just a sampling:
Watch the incredible Bourne Stuntacular Show
Interact with Transformers
Take a selfie with The Simpson characters
Have a meal with Captain America and other superheroes
Of course, there's no possible way you can experience everything that the Universal Orlando Resort has to offer in just 4 days. Believe it or not, Universal packages offer park tickets for up to 14 days for those guests who require a more leisurely pace.
Tips for the Royal Treatment
If your family desires luxury accommodations including family suites and club-level services, Universal has three premier resorts for discerning guests. Plus, every guest who stays at a Universal premier resort will automatically receive express unlimited passes which will allow you to skip the long lines. For even more convenience, you can reserve a VIP tour where an expert guide will take you behind the scenes, straight to the front of the line, and priority seating for shows and other entertainment.
Need some advice on must-do experiences at the Universal Orlando Resort? Check out the Top 10 things you shouldn't overlook at the Universal Orlando Resort.
Heading to Universal Orlando Resort during the months of November and December? Then, you will definitely want to learn about the Top 5 Holiday Activities at the Universal Orlando Resort.
Lissa Ryan is a Senior Travel Advisor with Kingdom Destinations specializing in luxurious family vacations. Lissa helps busy parents who want to create travel memories with their families through luxury travel experiences, but are too busy or overwhelmed with all the effort and research that is required to plan that perfect vacation.
For more information or to schedule a consultation to discuss a trip to Universal Orlando Resort or any other luxury family vacation, please contact lissa@kingdomdestinations.com.