3-Day Itinerary for a Universal Orlando Resort Vacation (With Downloadable Park Maps & Itineraries!)
Planning for an Ultimate 3-Day Vacation at Universal Orlando Resort with your family is super simple with this 3-Day Itinerary to Universal Orlando Resort (With Downloadable Park Maps & Itineraries!). Stop daydreaming about your next vacation and start planning as I share all of our Universal Orlando tips and experiences in this 3-Day Universal Orlando Resort vacation.
Here you will find my best tips and experiences as a Universal Studios Pro Vacationer! Included also is downloadable itineraries to help your family plan the perfect vacation at Universal Orlando Resort in Orlando, Florida.
Complete Three-Day Itinerary
We live in the midwest, so getting to Florida does take some palling on our part. We have driven a few times, but most of our trips to Florida involve flying. Whether you are traveling to Universal Orlando from across the state of Florida, the southern states, the Midwest like us, or clear across the United States — or perhaps internationally, we believe that the first day is for relaxing and settling into the hotel. Especially since we don’t usually arrive until later afternoon. Most hotels won’t even allow check-in until late afternoon either.
DAY ONE: A DAY AT UNIVERSAL STUDIOS FLORIDA
Our first day is spent traveling to our destination, especially if we are flying. By the time we arrive at the hotel, we have been in taxis or limos, airplanes, shuttles, and stood in lots of lines waiting. We are tired and just want to chill. Universal has a number of hotels to select from on their properties.
PRO TIP: The question we get asked the most is —>
Should you Stay at an On-site Resort Hotel at Universal Orlando?
Yes, one-hundred-thousand times YES!! Making a reservation to stay at an on-site resort hotel at Universal Orlando is unquestionably the way to go. The added perks that Universal offers can’t be beaten! Here are a few:
Early Park Admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter or Universal’s Volcano Bay.
Complimentary transportation to and from the theme parks and CityWalk.
Universal Orlando Character Experiences with some of your favorite theme park characters
Complimentary Merchandise Delivery to your hotel from shops throughout Universal. There’s no reason to lug your souvenirs around all day.
Resort Wide Charging Privileges with your room key.
Wake Up Calls from one of your favorite Universal Orlando characters.
EXPRESS PASSES (only available from Premier Resorts)
Here are Universal Orlando Resorts On-Site Hotels:
Premier On-Site Resorts
Premier resorts are the Loews Portofino, Loews Royal Pacific, and the Hard Rock Hotel. The Premier resorts include Unlimited Express Passes and Priority Seating at select restaurants. We have stayed at Lowes Portofino, Hard Rock Hotel and Loews Royal Pacific (Lowes Royal Pacific is our favorite)
Loews Portofino — keep in mind that this is a high-end, more elegant resort. Expect fine dining and opera in a more hushed atmosphere. Good for families that want a feel of Europe and a relaxed, low stimulation atmosphere.
Hard Rock Hotel — the vibe at the Hard Rock is much livelier, living up to the rock and roll reputation with live music at the pool (and even music under the water.) This hotel may appeal to Millennials, but kids also love the waterslide and parents love the proximity to the parks.
Loews Royal Pacific — the Royal Pacific offers the largest pool, but no slide, so more for swimmers and loungers than those looking for poolside entertainment. However, you can take the bridge over to Sapphire Falls and hop a water taxi or shuttle over to the parks.
Preferred On-Site Hotels
Preferred Hotels is just the Loews Sapphire Falls. Loews Sapphire Falls does NOT include Express Pass or Priority Seating, but you can still take a water taxi to the CityWalk and the Universal Theme Parks instead of a shuttle bus.
Loews Sapphire Falls— with a distinctly Caribbean vibe, the pool at the Loews Sapphire Falls offers both a slide and sandy area. You can also find corn hole and table tennis nearby for entertaining little ones.
Value On-Site Resorts
Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Surfside Inn and Suites This extra affordable resort hotel will feature 750 rooms and suites. The standard guest rooms will sleep up to four guests. Alternatively, the 2-bedroom suites will sleep up to six and include a kitchenette. The resort will feature one pool and a splash pad for the kids.
Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Dockside Inn and Suites - Dockside Inn and Suites feature 2,050 rooms and suites. The room layouts are the same as those offered at Surfside Inn and Suites. Differing from Surfside Inn and Suites, this resort features two resort-style pools and a splash pad for the kids.
Prime Value On-Site Resorts
Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort - Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort is retro-themed after the iconic beach resorts of the 1950s and 60s. Accommodations include standard guest rooms that sleep up to four and family suites that sleep up to six. In addition, there are 2-bedroom family suites that sleep up to eight. The resort features two enormous swimming pools, a water slide, a lazy river, and a 10-lane bowling alley.
Universal’s Aventura Hotel - Universal’s Aventura Hotel features all the latest modern details and technology. Accommodations include standard guest rooms that sleep up to four guests and specially themed kids suites that will sleep up to five.
After you check into your hotel, change into your swimming suits, and head to the pool. Perhaps along the way to the pool, your family will encounter some characters, as they do roam about the hotels meeting with guests! My kiddos love to head right to the pool to cool off, order some fun drinks, and eat a snack or two from the poolside menu. My husband always orders a cocktail and I read a book and relax in the sun!
After the kids are thoroughly invigorated from swimming, we head up to the room to get ready for dinner. We always head to Universal CityWalk our first night and eat dinner at one of our family’s most favorite restaurants! COWFISH and then head to TOOTHSOME CHOCOLATE EMPORIUM for dessert. I highly recommend making a reservation for both restaurants (really all restaurants that you really want to eat) before you even leave for your vacation!
Universal CityWalk Restaurants
CityWalk is the place to go for dinner and nightly entertainment. We have eaten at every single restaurant in CityWalk and have never had a bad dining experience! Antojitos Authentic Mexican Food, Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville, and Vivo Italian Kitchen are all fantastic. But as I stated above, our favorites are The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar and Toothsome Chocolate Emporium.
Universal Resort Hotel Restaurants
If you didn’t want to leave your hotel, the Universal Resort Hotel Restaurants are just as amazing. We have eaten at all the restaurants in Loews Portofino, Loews Royal Pacific and Loews Sapphire Falls as well as Hard Rock. Loews Royal Pacific has some fantastic restaurants!! There are over 40 dining locations at the Universal on-site resort hotels, from quick-service to table service to fine dining. Remember you can have breakfast with Universal Characters too!!
What We Did On Day One
Relaxed by the pool and went swimming
Ordered tasty tropical drinks from Drhum Club Kantine
*PRO TIP: remember to bring your Souvenir Glass from your last trip to only pay the refill cost!
Took the water taxi over to CityWalk
Enjoyed dinner at COWFISH and dessert at The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium
Pro Tip: When you stay on-site, you have access to every pool on the properties - so be ready to pool hop! All of the pools are unique to their setting and all are filled with fun activities for your family. We tend to stay at our home hotel swimming pool.
DAY TWO: A DAY AT UNIVERSAL STUDIOS FLORIDA
On day two we get up bright and early and ready for a day of adventuring. We always purchase park-to-park-passes and take full advantage of the complimentary transportation and Early Park Admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Don’t forget to get your express passes if you are staying at one of Universal’s Premier Resorts.
On our first full day in the parks, (we always select Universal Studios now that my kids are teenagers) we always head right to Lard Lad Donuts for breakfast. Once you walk through the entrance of Universal Studios Florida, turn right and head past Hollywood to Springfield to get yourself a Big Pink.
What We Did On Day Two:
Kick-off the day with lattes and a visit to Lard Lad Donut for a The Big Pink. If the lines are short, hop on The Simpsons Ride
Ride E.T. Adventure - my all-time most favorite ride!! It’s very nostalgic!
Try to win in MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack. My kids win every single time! No clue how they do it!
Wander through The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley. Remember to exchange some money at Gringotts Money Exchange and select a new Interactive Wand from Ollivanders and try your hand at casting spells
PRO TIP: The Diagon Alley location in Universal Studios focuses on the wizard’s experience. In addition, there is shopping, dining, and the opportunity to socialize with other wizards in the secret London location.
Ride Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts and visit the Knight Bus
Eat lunch at the Leaky Cauldron - this is a MUST-DO!
Everyone tried new flavors of ice cream at Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream Parlour
Spend the afternoon riding Fast & Furious – Supercharged, Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon, and Despicable Me Minion Mayhem.
Go and see the very last show of the afternoon or early evening for the Universal Orlando’s Horror Make-up Show. This is the perfect spot, on particularly hot afternoons, too! AND< this show is HIL-AR-IOUS!
Also be thrilled by riding Revenge of the Mummy, Hollywood Rip Ride Rocket, and TRANSFORMERS: The Ride-3D. We always ride these three rides multiple times in a row!
Stroll down Hollywood Boulevard to meet some of our favorite characters
Eat a late dinner at Finnegan’s Bar & Grill or Louie’s Italian Restaurant or Cafe La Bamba or Mel’s Drive-In
Find the perfect location to see Universal Orlando’s Cinematic Celebration
PRO TIP: Since we are an odd-numbered family, we are able to take advantage of the single rider line for Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack, Revenge of the Mummy, and TRANSFORMERS: The Ride-3D.
DAY THREE: A DAY AT UNIVERSAL’S ISLANDS OF ADVENTURE
We used to visit Universal’s Islands of Adventure on our first full day at Universal when my children were younger and toddlers. We visit Universal’s Islands of Adventure on our second full day now that my children are all teenagers. We always walk in bright and early and head right to Starbucks and Cinnabon which is directly to the left after you enter through the Port of Entry. Then head straight away to Marvel Super Hero Island!
What We Did On Day Three
Rode The Incredible Hulk Coaster, Storm Force Accelatron, Doctor Doom’s Fearfall and The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man THIS IS WHERE YOUR EXPRESS PASS really comes in handy!! Sometimes we ride the Hulk and The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man twice in a row!
Meet up with some superheroes . Look how adorable my kiddos are from one year to a few years later!!
If you fancy a cool-down and full-on dosing of water - ride Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls
PRO TIP: There are personal drying stations at the exit of Dudley Do-Right. But, they do take time and frankly, the wet clothes are rather nice and cooling on hot days!
Ride Skull Island: Reign of Kong - take the time to walk through as this is a really cool exhibit before the ride. And then, take the express and go ride it again for good measure!
Grab lunch at Thunder Falls Terrace (this is inside Jurassic Park). This is an air-conditioned area with great access to bathrooms. We regroup and relax in here mid-day - it is really the perfect spot to recharge!
Visit the Jurassic Park Discovery Center and wait for a dinosaur hatching! This is my daughters favorite spot to visit! I have to say, in all honesty, I will be so sad the day they don’t want to watch the dinosaurs hatch any longer!
Ride Pteranodon Flyers and Jurassic Park River Adventure (if you fancy getting wet again)
Raptor Encounter in Jurassic Park
Head to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade and explore and cast more spells!! Hogsmeade focuses on the experience of the students who reside at Hogwarts and all about their lives and magic skills inside the castle.
PRO TIP: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Hogsmeade is located in Islands of Adventure and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Diagon Alley is located in Universal Studios Florida.
REMEMBER: Visiting both areas Diagon Alley (at Universal Studios) and Hogsmeade (at Islands of Adventure) will require a 2-park ticket.
Drink Butterbeer at Hogsmeade - Frozen butterbeer on a hot day is a perfect afternoon treat!
Ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Flight of the Hippogriff and Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure
PRO TIP: Forbidden Journey is located inside of the Hogwarts castle.
Take Hogwarts Express at Hogsmeade Station back over to Diagon Alley. (This requires a Park-to-Park ticket) Then ride the Hogwarts Express to Hogsmeade, and head to London in Universal Studios Florida. Enter King's Cross Station and walk straight through a solid brick wall onto Platform 9 ¾. This is the only side to walk through the brick wall. **Be sure to have someone take a video.
PRO TIP: The Hogsmeade Village shops are pretty small. We always return at the end of the night if we want to look around for a new wand or some special trickets or candy. Closer to cling time, the shops are basically empty.
Visit The Mystic Fountain and Poseidon’s Fury
Eat dinner at Mythos or back at the hotel or at CityWalk
Go back and visit any characters you missed
BONUS: My children and I do not like or enjoy water parks, but I know many families who love to visit water parks. If your family enjoys water parks, visit Universal’s Volcano Bay on Day four — you will love the refreshing water and relaxation of sitting poolside after two full days of adventuring.
DAY FOUR: UNIVERSAL’S VOLCANO BAY
Walk or take complimentary transportation to Volcano Bay from your resort
Take advantage of early entrance if you are staying on-site
Tap your TapuTapu on the totem outside of Krakatau Aqua Coaster
Virtually wait in line for Honu
Eating dessert for breakfast at Waturi Fusion Ice Cream
Relax in the Kopiko Wai Winding River
Explore inside the volcano, Krakatau
Watch the sunset at Waturi Beach
I really hope this 3-Day Itinerary to Universal Orlando Resort Vacation helps your family plan the perfect vacation and create adventures and memories to last a lifetime. Some of our best memories and days were spent at Universal.