My Recent Trip to Another Theme Park: An Adventure for the Books

I have to be honest. I wasn’t super excited for this trip. 

I wouldn’t consider myself a theme park person. To each their own, right?

I prefer to spend my time on a beach in Cancun, or in Tuscany sipping wine, and enjoying the culture of Italian living. 

It was also a rescheduled trip from last year that I had to cancel at the last minute due to illness. I owed it to my travel partner, Cara Parker (another Travel Gal at Anywhere But Here Travel), to see this trip through.

Cara is a Harry Potter fan which was awesome because seeing how excited she was to experience the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, gave me the energy I needed to suck it up, and get to theme-parkin’. Since Cara is a Theme Park Specialist (one of her many specialties), I felt traveling with her was my best shot at having a good time. 

Cara and I started our adventure on March 26, 2023, when we hopped on a plane from Seattle, WA to Orlando, FL. Excitement filled the air (see what I did there?) as we landed in the city of Orlando, knowing that a magical world awaited us. Our destination, as you likely already figured out, was Universal Studios Orlando, which is home to some of the most thrilling rides and amazing attractions. Our trip was a five-day adventure filled with fun, excitement, and a few surprises! 

One of the highlights of our trip was the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. This area of the park was absolutely amazing and even better than I could have imagined. 

Walking through Diagon Alley, I felt like I was in a movie! Admittedly, I haven’t seen all the movies or read the books, (I know, I know) so Cara was gracious enough to fill me in on some of the things that didn’t quite make sense. 

From what she shared, the theme was spot on — from the shops selling magical wands and wizarding robes to the delicious butterbeer. Which, by the way, tastes like cream soda (yum) and is available cold, hot, or frozen. The attention to detail was impressive, and I loved exploring every nook and cranny along with Cara. 

We also took a ride on the incredible Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, which is a combination of a rollercoaster and a 3D experience. The ride was a little intense but so fun we wanted to ride it again but sadly didn’t get the chance. 

Speaking of rollercoasters, another part of Universal Orlando is Jurassic World. They have the Velocicoaster. This crazy ride is one of the most thrilling and exciting roller coasters in the world. With speeds of up to 70 miles per hour and a 155-foot drop, it’s not for the faint of heart. In fact, when it opened in 2021, it was the fastest roller coaster at any Universal Park. 

For those who are brave enough to ride it, the Velocicoaster offers an incredible experience that’s sure to leave a lasting impression. There was mention of being in a jungle and such but I don’t remember any of that. All I remember is lots of twists, turns, drops, and feeling like I was going to be shot into space or the ground and water beneath me. Oh, and lots of screaming. Ha! For me, it was great and I would do it again if I went with someone that didn’t want to wait in line by themselves. Cara on the other hand, not sure I could ever get her anywhere near that thing again. It was intense!

On the flip side, one experience that I could have done without was the breakfast at the Flying Broom. For about $20 you get a very basic meal, which is fine, except it was not even close to worth the cost. I almost booked the breakfast experience ahead of time which would have set me back $40 instead of $20 for the exact same thing. No thanks! Save some dough and eat breakfast elsewhere.

Now, let’s talk about accommodations. Cara and I stayed at an on-property hotel, Cabana Bay Resort. The theme of this hotel was 1950s and 60s beach resorts, which meant bright colors, retro furnishings, and pool areas that were picture-perfect. The hotel is well laid out and feels like a destination in itself. It was also conveniently located within walking distance of the parks, which was great for saving time and energy. The amenities were wonderful, from the lazy river and waterslide to the bowling alley and arcade.

If I did it again though, I would stay at one of the other on-property hotels. After a long day at the parks, I was just done walking. While a 15 minute walk isn’t really much in general, it feels like 2 hours when you have been on your feet all day. Other properties were much closer, and a couple have direct access to the water taxi that drops you basically at the entrance of 2 out of 3 parks.  

Final thoughts?

Why use a travel agent to book a trip like this?

• There are SO many details to consider. We are in the details business!
• Determining best days to visit which park can make a huge difference in your experience. (especially if you have “must ride” attractions)
• Insider information about dining, fast passes, etc
• Educated hotel recommendations

But, the best reason from our perspective is taking some of the stress out of planning a trip like this one. 

Our Universal Studios Orlando experience can support you in making your trip more enjoyable!