Our 3 Day Universal Orlando Itinerary: Tips, Favorite Rides, and Must-Know Secrets
- kmichelleelliott
- 5 hours ago
- 3 min read
Planning a Universal Orlando vacation? Here’s our 3-day itinerary, favorite rides, Cabana Bay review, Express Pass tips, and what we learned traveling with kids
This winter break, we spent three days park hopping at Universal Orlando, and it was the perfect mix of adventure, family time, and LOTS of steps (20,000+ per day 😅). If you’re planning a Universal Orlando vacation, here’s what we loved, what surprised us, and what we’d do again.
Staying On Property at Universal's Cabana Bay
We stayed at Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort and highly recommend staying on property. The biggest perk is early park access, which lets you enter the parks an hour before the general public. This made a huge difference and helped us ride popular attractions with shorter wait times.
We also used a local travel advisor to help book everything, which made the process much easier.
Day 1: Islands of Adventure Highlights
We started at Universal’s Islands of Adventure and kicked off the day with VelociCoaster, which quickly became one of our top rides. It’s fast, smooth, and so much fun.
Next was the Incredible Hulk coaster, another classic thrill ride. One thing we loved about Universal is the free lockers, which are required for many rides. You simply use your ticket or room key to access them.
We also purchased refillable popcorn and soda cups. They were convenient but only good for the first day, so just know there’s a small refill fee after that.
Harry Potter World Magic
Scarlette purchased an interactive wand, and this was one of the coolest parts of the trip. Throughout the Harry Potter areas in both parks, you can cast spells that interact with displays. It’s fun for kids and adults and truly immersive.
Is Express Pass Worth It?
We bought Express Passes for two of our three days, and it was absolutely worth it. It saved so much time and allowed us to ride more attractions.
One of our favorites in Universal Studios was Revenge of the Mummy. We tried to ride Escape from Gringotts multiple times, but the wait times were over 100 minutes due to technical issues. Even Express Pass can’t fix everything, so flexibility is key.
🎭 Mardi Gras at Universal
A fun surprise was the nightly Mardi Gras parade. The floats, music, and bead throwing added such a festive energy. We came home with so many beads and great memories.
Day 3: Epic Universe
We spent our final day at Universal Epic Universe. Our favorite ride of the entire trip was Stardust Racers. You race another coaster at high speeds, and the design is incredibly smooth and creative. We rode it twice and would have ridden it again.
Super Mario World was visually impressive and very interactive, but also crowded and overstimulating. It’s perfect for gamers and families who love immersive experiences.
The facial recognition lockers in this park were a cool upgrade and made storing items simple and fast.
⭐ Our Top 3 Favorite Rides
Stardust Racers
VelociCoaster
Revenge of the Mummy
Final Thoughts
This trip was such a special way to spend Scarlette’s winter break. Between the rides, family time, and new experiences, it’s a vacation we’ll never forget.
If you’re planning a Universal Orlando trip, I’m always happy to share tips. And if you love travel, lifestyle, and behind-the-scenes of our Lowcountry life, follow along on Instagram.
Planning a move, second home, or lifestyle change? I help families relocate to Hilton Head and Bluffton. Follow along on Instagram for travel, lifestyle, and Lowcountry living.
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