We love traveling as a family and one of Kora & Logan’s favorite places to go is amusement parks.
That’s why we were excited to be given the opportunity to work with Universal Orlando Resort. Flights, accommodations, meals, park tickets, activities and goodie bags were provided.
It was so much fun and a trip well never forget!
Bright and early Thursday morning we packed Kora & Logan up in the car and headed for the airport. We kept the trip a secret the entire time and they didn’t know anything about it until we pulled up to the airport. Once we told them we were going to Universal Orlando Resort, they were so excited they jumped up and down did a few spins, twists and turns, and shouted, “Yes!”
We stayed at the Loews Royal Pacific Resort. It is gorgeous! The resort has a tropical island theme infused with history of the Royal Pacific. The room decor was lovely, the pool was incredible, and the grounds truly transported us to the island life. I enjoyed our stay here so much that I can’t wait to return one day and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a place to stay in the area.
I’ll be writing a review of the hotel resort soon, but here are a few of my favorite photos in the meantime.
Next, we headed off to the parks where we were treated to a Superstar Character Breakfast. The food was delicious (I couldn’t get enough of the blueberry muffins!) and the characters were fantastic. They posed for lots and lots of pictures.
They also threw a fun dance party!
Next, we were off to Universal Studios where we had a VIP tour guide who told us about the history of the park, the rides, and the people. We were able to get right to the front of every line with no waiting. It was amazing! If you have the chance to ever take this kind of tour, I recommend it. Not only is it interesting but it’s a huge time saver as well.
Some of our favorite rides and attractions in this park included:
- Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
- The Simpsons Ride
- Disaster! A Major Motion Picture Ride Starring You!
- Animal Actors on Location
- Curious George Goes To Town
- Fivel’s Playground & Waterslide
- Woody Woodpecke’s Nuthouse Coaster
- Rip Ride Rocket
We met up with the other bloggers and families for lunch where one of the Universal Resort chefs spoke to us about the many 300 and under calorie meal options throughout the parks. We also had the chance to not only hear from the Executive Director of Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, but we rode the ride with him as well! It was a real treat to be able to experience the ride with one of its creators and to see him smiling and enjoying it just as much as everyone else.
Minion Mayhem is a 3D HD motion ride that starts out in Gru’s house where the riders are being recruited to become minions. Of course, things don’t go quite right and soon you find yourself falling, flying, laughing, and smiling your way through the rest of the ride. It really is a funny and heart warming story line that ends with a fantastic interactive minion dance party.
That afternoon we all met up again for the new Superstar Parade. It’s a fun-filled and festive parade that features many Universal Studios characters. Kora & Logan enjoyed seeing their favorite characters walk, roll, dance, and hop their way on by.
We had a bit of family time which we spent it swimming and then the group gathered again for dinner at Lombard’s Seafood Grille. Dinner was delicious and the ice cream bar for dessert was a huge hit with the kids and adults!
We then went out onto the restaurant’s balcony to watch the new nighttime show, 100 Years of Movie Memories. In a mix of water, lasers, lights, and fireworks we were transported through Universal’s most iconic films all narrated by Morgan Freeman.
The next morning we were off to Universal Islands of Adventure. We met up with our VIP tour guide and he promptly took us to one of our favorite places in both parks – Seuss Landing. The area is bright, colorful, and a wonderful tribute to one of my favorite childhood authors. The imagination and creativity used in this park brought smiles to all of our faces.
Next up was The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Our guide told us we had hit it at a great time because we could actually see the ground between us, which meant it wasn’t very busy. This area is spectacular. The attention to detail is incredible and it was so fun to see the books and movies come to life. We were excited to eat lunch inside Three Broomsticks and even enjoyed a frozen Butterbeer.
That day we walked by Jurassic Park and didn’t stop in but we were intrigued enough to do so the next day. Logan is not the thrillseeker of the family, so as soon as he said he wanted to ride the Pteranodon Flyers we made sure to fit it in. The ride is so fun! It’s as if you are flying over the jungle, it glides smoothly and really gives you a bird’s eye view of the park. Both kids enjoyed it so much we rode multiple times our last two days.
We were also excited to discover the Jurassic Park Discover Center. The kids played here for nearly two hours. With all of the rope bridges, cargo nets, water guns, tunnels, caves, slides, and shade, it was the perfect place to escape from the hot sun while still having a “safari adventure” as the kids called it.
Since it was so hot we were very thankful for the chance to cool off at the various spraygrounds and misters throughout both parks. They offered a nice break in our day and the kids had fun playing in them.
At the end of our day our tour guide told us he had a surprise for us. We went through an area that said “Do Not Enter” and the next thing we knew Wolverine, Spiderman, Captain America and other superheros were riding up to greet us! They shook our hands, had a chat, and we snapped a few fantastic family pictures.
That evening we went to the Wantilan Luau at the hotel. I was really excited! I’d never been to a Luau before. It was really fun, the food was flavorful and Polynesian, the music was so relaxing with such an island beach feel, and the show was very fun with hula and fire dancing.
After the Luau we were off to see the Blue Man Group. If you’ve never seen the Blue Man Group and get the chance we highly recommend the show. It was not only an amazing musical performance but it was very funny too. We found ourselves laughing as much as we would have at a comedy show. The show is very interactive with the audience as well which makes it all the more fun.
It truly was a fantastic and fun trip. We met incredible people and had a wonderful time with our family and theirs. The hotel, parks, and pool were fabulous and we can’t wait to return someday soon!
What about you? What was your favorite vacation?
Universal is fun to visit! Entertainment for everyone!
Oh my this looks like so much fun for the whole family. I have never been there but sure want to check it out.
I bet the kids get a kick out of seeing all the characters, but I bet it increases their desire for more toys.
Especially after seeing your trip, I don’t know why Disney World is king in FL, it looks to me like Universal Orlando is THE best. :) Thanks for sharing your experiences. :)
Looks like you all had a great time! This post makes me want to visit Universal, and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter would definitely be my first stop
Looks like you guys had a great time.
been to miami beach a few times,but i have always wanted to go to Orlando…maybe someday..loos fun
Sounds like you and your family had a lot of fun.
Glad to see a post with younger children, been wanting to take my kids but they’re not old enough. Plus we’re so deeply rooted in disney it gets hard to go to universal.
My daughter currently loves the new Lorax movie so I would love to take her to Suess Landing.
This was especially fun to read about because in April I am going on my first commercial plane, my first trip to Florida and our first visit to Universal Studios to spend the day with our young adult daughter and her boyfriend who live across the country from us and we wanted to be able to do something special with them. I’m nervous and excited.
Last time I was there was when they were just building the Dr. Suess landing. We miss Florida!
Looks awesome, I have always wanted to go there.
I want to bring my daughter here in the worst way. I think I’ll have enough money next year to finally be able to! It looks really fun! Thanks for the post!
Looks like a great family vacation spot. I’ve always wanted to visit Universal.
what a fun trip! looks like so much fun – hope to do this one day
Oh congrats on the trip, it looks like such a fabulous time for all of you! The write-up and pics are fantastic!
It was so fun to meet you and your family! What a fun trip. Great recap!!
It was great to meet you and your children. It sounds like we missed something special by not hitting Jurassic Park. My kids fell in love with Seuss Landing and I could have spent a whole day in the Harry Potter World.
Looks like a great vacation!
It really was an amazing trip! It was so fun to spend our first day with your family. Great recap!
Looks like you had an amazing time with the kids and kept them occupied !
I have to say a favorite vacation for our family was to Disneyland in Florida!My Son has grown-up now and already been back a couple times him self!
I’ve never been there but it looks amazing! You met a LOT of characters my son loves!
Wow. That looks like an amazing trip! I hope we get invited to trips like that one day!
I’m not sure what I like best – the hotel, the park or the food! So happy that you got to enjoy it all with your family.
It looks like you had an amazing time. I haven’t been to Universal since I was 15. I need to bring my girls. :)
I am so jealous. I really want to see the Universal in Florida. Been to the one here in California twice, but not to that one yet. Looks like you had an amazing time.
We have never been to Universal, I always heard it was fun! Looks like you and your family had a great time!
WOW Sounds like an AMAZING time. I can’t wait to bring my family one day.
What amazing memories you all made! So much fun that you were able to share the experience with your whole family!
How fun! Love Dr. Seuss Landing!
looks so much fun! I would love to go there!
that is an absolutely amazing experience! I would love to go there! And that is the nicest hotel room I’ve seen! WOW! And the minions! Oh the minions! My daughter would go crazy in love! The only thing she loves more than minions are My Little Ponies. lol.
you saw carrie!! lucky!!
looks like a blast. when i was there last seuss world wasn’t finished!
Wow, that is absolutely incredible! I bet that vacation was a blast!!
How much fun is this! I would love to go to Universal Studios with my family. Thanks for the introduction to the resort.
Fabulous photos! I haven’t been to Universal in quite a while but we definitely want to go sometime in the next few years! I want my son to be a bit a older but I’m not sure how long I can hold my husband off because he is a huge Harry Potter fan!
I looks like you all had an absolute blast!! I wanna go now, lol! Seuss Landing looks so cool!!
“It”…opps…need more coffee!
Oh that looks like a blast! And you met SPONGEBOB!
Looks like your family had tons of fun! I didn’t know they had a Curious George attraction there…my son would love it!
Wow, the new resort looks wonderful! Can’t wait to read more about where you stayed, looks beautiful. Looks like everyone had a wonderful time!
Great pictures! The hotel looks amazing. I love the character breakfast
What an amazing vacation destination! We love visiting Universal Studios – especially Islands of Adventure – but we’ve never stayed onsite at one of their lovely hotels. I need to add that to my must-do list!
What an awesome vacation! I am jealous that you got to take photos with the superheros, they are never around when I am there!
Oh, what a blast! And such great pics!
wow that hotel looks super nice!!
I just love all of the pictures! Looks like you had such a great time!
I love all your pictures from this trip – it was such a fantastic experience! I loved getting to know you and your family! I really wish I had gone on the Despicable Me ride again before we left – it was so much fun!