The Orlando Bug

We’ve got it, there’s no denying it.  I knew it would happen.

So, we’re just back from Orlando (as you know) and we’ve already booked to go back in 2020 ?

This time we’ll do 4 nights at the Hard Rock at Universal Studios though followed by two weeks in a villa. I can’t tell you how much it’s worth booking one of the Universal hotels that includes the Express Pass – especially if you have children.

On it’s own, the Express Pass (which means no queuing for rides, you walk down a separate line straight to the front of the queue) costs up to $159.99 per person PER DAY! For a family like ours (2 adults, 2 children and an infant) that’s $639.96 per day (Phoenix doesn’t pay but kids are the same price as an adult). $639!!!! PER DAY!!!  The hotel cost us £500 TOTAL for 2 nights which included 3 days of Express Passes.

When we do 4 nights in 2020 we’ll have 5 days of Express Passes so that we can go on each ride as many times as we like with no queuing. So as you can see, it’s worth having a few nights at the hotel and making use of the Express Pass (Admission tickets to Universal are separate and you still need to buy these).

The Universal Parks are fab and although we had 2 full days there and had the Express Passes, we could have easily spent a couple of extra days there. There’s so much to do. A lot of the rides are 4D simulator type but they’re so advanced including smells and touch. They’re some of my favourites.

The best (and probably most popular) part of the Universal parks has to be the Harry Potter area though. It’s a must for any Harry Potter fans. Here are just a few of our pictures:

A dragon on the top of Gringotts Bank! It breathes fire every few minutes

The Hogwarts Express pulling into Hogsmeade Station

Outside Hogsmeade Station

Hogsmeade

Kings Cross Station

Hogwarts

The Knight Bus

Platform 9 and three quarters

There is plenty more at Universal too including a whole ‘The Simpsons’ area…..

Rafe and Millhouse

We had to try the Lard Lads doughnut – it was huge!!

…..plenty of Minions about the place……

Rafe with a Minion

And a whole Dr Seuss area too

Aimee and Rafe with the Grinch

Whatever your age and whatever you like, there’s plenty for everyone at Universal!  We’ll be back! (In two years….booooo).

Lx