By: Marvelous Mouse Travels
Planning your first trip to Universal Orlando? I've compiled a list of the most common mistakes that first timers make on their vacation to Universal!
This guidebook is jam packed with 600+ pages of everything that you need to know about Universal Orlando. Not only will this guide help you prepare for your vacation, but it will also be helpful to you while you are ON your vacation. Downloading this digital guide to your phone or tablet will give you quick access to park tips, itineraries, resort details, transportation options, and more! For added fun, there are sections dedicated to the best photo spots, must watch movies before you visit, and a Drinking Around the Universe challenge! If your primary reason for visiting Universal Orlando is the wizarding world, there is a pocket guidebook dedicated to just that! "A Marvelous Guide to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando" provides the reader with detailed information to the wizarding world including rides, dining, secrets, butterbeer, a wand guide, an itinerary, and more!
You can purchase both books on Amazon!
Park-to-park tickets are the best way to experience The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. You cannot ride the Hogwarts Express without a park-to-park ticket. Tip- you will want to ride the train in both directions as it is different each way! Having a park-to-park ticket is also great on rainy days. If you are in Islands of Adventure and it is raining, most of the rides will shut down until the rain stops. You can use your park-to-park ticket to hop over to Universal Studios where most of the rides are indoors. Furthermore, if one park closes early, you can hop over to the other park to continue the fun!
Early Park Admission is typically reserved for onsite guests of one of Universal Orlando's eight hotels. This extra hour in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter gives guests the opportunity to experience Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade with lower crowds. It is the perfect time to take photos, ride the most popular attractions, participate in the wand ceremony at Ollivanders, have breakfast at Leaky Cauldron or Three Broomsticks, or browse the many themed shops. If you are not staying onsite, you can still receive early park admission by purchasing your tickets from a Marvelous Mouse Travels agent!
Purchasing a lanyard to hold your tickets and express passes will be very helpful while you are in the park. Your park tickets will need to be scanned when both entering the park and boarding the Hogwarts Express and your express passes will be scanned each time that you enter an express pass line. Having them accessible always will save you time from searching through your purse or backpack to find them.
There are many benefits to staying at one of Universal's premier resorts, Loews Royal Pacific Resort, Hard Rock Hotel, and Loews Portofino Bay, but the best one is that unlimited express passes are included in your stay for each guest in your room! Unlimited express passes allow you to bypass the standby lines and shorten your wait times at your favorite rides. An additional benefit is the proximity to CityWalk, Universal Studios Florida, and Islands of Adventure. You can walk a short distance on the garden path or ride one of the water taxis available at each of these resorts. These resorts also offer table service restaurants in addition to quick service options.
If you are interested in eating at one or more of the most popular restaurants at Universal Orlando Resort, like Mythos or Toothsome Chocolate Emporium, reservations are highly recommended. Often, the wait times for these restaurants without a reservation can be up to an hour or more.
Not taking advantage of the free service of a travel agent is a huge mistake! Marvelous Mouse Travels agents are highly trained and knowledgeable in Universal Orlando Resort and receive yearly training about this destination. Marvelous Mouse Travels is designated as a U-Preferred Diamond Agency. This means we plan a lot of Universal vacations! Your agent will offer you advice, tips, and tricks for your vacation, answer all your questions, and even make your dining reservations at no extra cost to you!
Please reach out to Marvelous Mouse Travels for more information or for a quote for your next vacation!
