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5 Reasons to Book a Universal Orlando Vacation NOW!



5. Volcano Bay

Universal's Volcano Bay is a "wet" theme park.  Forget everything you know about a traditional water park, they have thought of ways to improve that!  No carrying tubes around and no burning feet on hot concrete!  Oh, and you can't forget the incredible Tapu Tapu wearable - no more needing to carry methods of payments around, or even a camera!  You can use your wearable to pay (link your payment method via the Universal Orlando App) and to activate selfie spots throughout the park. (TAPU TAPU ENDS OCT 1, 2025) There are a variety of rides and experiences for thrill seekers to relaxation finders so there's something for everyone.  And, the food at Volcano Bay is even a notch above what many would expect.  You can add this 4th park to your Universal tickets for a small upcharge, and it's totally worth it! This park will be closed from October 26, 2026, to March 24, 2027 for refurbishment.

4. Rides for Thrill-Seekers (but also lots for families)

Epic Universe, Universal's Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida have some amazing coasters and thrill rides.  The coasters you can see towering from a distance are The Incredible Hulk at Islands of Adventure and the all new Stardust Racers at Epic Universe. There are also Doctor Doom's Fearfall, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, and Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure at Islands of Adventure, The Mummy, and Harry Potter and the Escape From Gringotts at Universal Studios, and Curse of the Werewolf at Epic Universe, if you are looking for more thrills.


However, there are also plenty of family-friendly rides to be found at both parks, so don't shy away from planning a trip if your whole party aren't thrill seekers. At Islands of Adventure, Seuss Landing is one of my personal favorite areas in the park, it's so colorful and fun and has a variety of mild rides for kids and families.  Additionally, Flight of the Hippogriff is a small, family-friendly coaster to explore.  Over at Universal Studios, E.T. Adventure is a classic family attraction and there are great rides everyone can enjoy such as Minion Mayhem. At Epic Universe, the kids will love Constellation Carousel, Super Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge, Yoshis Adventure, Donkey Kong: Mine-Cart Madness, FyreDrill, and Hiccup's Wing Gliders.

3. Wizarding World of Harry Potter now has 3 sections

This is a major draw for many a Harry Potter fan, but even if you've never read a book or seen a movie following the adventures of The Boy Who Lived, Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure, Diagon Alley at Universal Studios, and The Ministry of Magic at Epic Universe are still three of the most impressive themed lands out there today. You will feel instantly transported to another place as you see dragons, wands, nifflers, and wizards around and new treats to try around every corner, and let's not forget Butterbeer!

Diagon Alley

On top of the incredible themeing, these lands are home to some of the most popular rides in the parks, and some of the best quick service food.  Pop into the Three Broomsticks, Le Gobelet Noir, Cafe L'air de la Sirène or the Leaky Cauldron for British and French Wizard inspired fare that will satisfy your hunger.

2. Location, Location, Location!

Universal Orlando Resort is much more compact than the Walt Disney World Resort.  When you stay on site at Universal, you are only a short walk, short water taxi, or short bus ride away from all four of their theme parks. Most of their on-site hotels have a walking path to at least one of the parks (the exceptions being Endless Summer and Terra Luna) which offer shuttle services instead. Stay inside Epic Universe in the all new Helios Grand Hotel, with a separate, private entrance into the park with Early Park Admission. 

Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure are both accessible via CityWalk, and with the Hogwarts Express linking them, we highly recommend getting Park to Park passes.  It's the only way to experience the Hogwarts Express, but it's also just so convenient to go from one park to another, so why limit yourself?  And, if you don't want to ride the Express, the front entrances are also only a very short walk from one another. 

Staying on site to take advantage of the location opens up great package perks as well! When booking a Universal Orlando Resort Vacation, you can customize your own package with your Kingdom Konsultant Agent to get the perfect trip for you.  All packages come with Early Park Entry, which allows you to get into the parks an hour before they open to the general public.  And, if you stay at a Premier hotel, you get the additional perk of the Universal Express Unlimited Pass, so no waiting in standby lines for you (there are a few rides that don't offer Express, and it's currently not available for Epic Universe) but overall it's an amazing perk!) For Harry Potter Fans, there is an exclusive package that includes some great Wizarding World extras!

1. Stress-Free Vacation

At Universal Orlando, you don't need to plan your days months in advance.  With the proximity of everything, it's easy to hop back and forth on a whim depending on how your day goes.  Dining reservations?  You can make them a few weeks in advance or just check the wait times when you are ready to eat.  There are tons of great options for food at Universal CityWalk, so if one wait seems a little long, you still aren't far from finding something delicious. Epic Universe has multiple quick service restaurants in each land! 

You can also add lots of stress-savers into your package to make your trip seamless.  Add-ons such as airport transfers, photo packages, VIP tours, and Volcano Bay passes make it so you can have everything you want in your package, and nothing you don't.

But the best thing?  Universal has price points for everyone - so you can build a vacation that fits within your budget. With resorts ranging from Value to Premier, there is a hotel to fit into your budget.  They even offer suites that sleep up to six for low prices that are sure to surprise you.  A great benefit for those with bigger families or just wanting to share the fun with more friends! 

Endless Summer Surfside Inn and Suites - a Value Resort

Portifino Bay - a Premier Resort

Contact your Kingdom Konsultant Agent today or vacations@kingdomkonsultant.com to get a free, no obligation quote to see just how affordable these trips can be! 


Maci Schau
Maci is an avid foodie and loves trying out new restaurants and seasonal food offerings in the parks.  You can email Maci at maci@kingdomkonsultant.com.
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