Planning a Trip to Universal Orlando
Last year we had a Disney adventure. This year we plan a Universal adventure. Since my kids are 5 and 14, this is a little tricky. Add into that my distaste for wet rides! So to make it a pleasant trip I’m doing some research.
Universal will be making a Harry Potter expansion in “Summer 2014”. When exactly? I still haven’t found out, one blogger’s speculation was July. It could be anywhere between the first week of June and the last week of August! What they are doing is putting in Diagon Alley in Universal Studios, then adding a train that runs from that park to the other park (thus encouraging people to buy a 2-park ticket!). Whenever this opens, the crowds will be ridiculous.
Research resources for Universal Orlando trip:
When reading blogs on travel tips, be aware that some bloggers are paid or compensated to blog about destinations. (I am not).
A Disney World Freak’s guide to Universal Orlando– WDW prep school. This woman was obviously not paid by the park. Freaking hilarious. It looks like it was written June 2013, and is very thorough, with an itinerary, ride descriptions and more.
A lot of Disney World guidebooks have a chapter in the back of the book for “other parks.”
Visit Orlando– the official visitor center for Orlando.
Yahoo Travel– crowdsourcing at its finest.
Wikitravel– Orlando
Theme Park Insider– History of the park, crowdsourced ratings on the rides, and an ad for his book.
Fodors– a trusted publisher of guide books.
Book: Universal Orlando 2014 by Kelly Monaghan. I haven’t read this, but it seems the most up to date guidebook on the subject.
