Universal Attractions Orlando

Universal Islands of Adventure

As soon as I got there, I went straight to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade, but you can start from the very beginning and turn left (for amazing experiences in Marvel Superheroes area) or right (a bit more for kids in Seuss Landing area), either way you won't be disappointed. 
It's hard to choose my favourites (excluding The Wizarding World of Harry Potter). I loved the 4D experience of The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man and the Skull Island: Reign of Kong. Check also the Poseidon’s Fury in The Lost Continent. 

⬩ Tip: Visit the The Wizarding World of Harry Potter during the day but come back at night as Hogsmeade and the Hogwarts Castle are incredible at night. 

In The Wizarding World of Harry Potter you can't miss the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, a 4D experience that will drive you to the moon, it's incredibly real and makes you feel part of it. 

⬩ Tip: Ollivanders it's a place you definitely want to visit, but I'm not going to say much to ruin the surprise. 

Universal Studios 

Another pleasant experience. Again, I started with The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley. It's incredible, and if you already have the wand from Ollivanders (the interactive one) you can perform more magic tricks. Without a doubt, go to the Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, it's amazing! 

If you are short of time, make sure you don't miss at least these experiences: Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, TRANSFORMERS: The Ride-3D and the Revenge of the Mummy. 

The are multiple shows throughout the day, like the Beat Builders Show and the Parade, check the times for details.

⬩ Tips:
🍩 Eat a doughnut at Springfield: Home of the Simpsons 
💳 AMEX it's the official sponsor and you'll probably hear you'll have some discounts. Well, the only discount we found was if you spend +$75 in merchandising that is NOT Harry Potter then you'll have a 10% discount, helpful...right? 

🎒 What to pack (for both parks):

• 1 underwear change - I dressed a bikini and after the water rides I changed to normal underwear  
• 2 Shorts or 2 light summer trousers if you're going around November-December 
• 2 t-shirts or 2 tops 
• 1 small towel 
• Trainers & Flip flops: if you choose to go with trainers have a pair of flip flops to change before water rides
• If you'd like, wear water-proof make-up e.g. mascara and foundation - not essential 
• Hat
• Sunglasses (make sure you secure/take them away them before the rides)
• Sunscreen 
• Water bottle
• Light jacket if you're going around November-December 
• Lights snacks (sealed/unopened as otherwise security may take them away)

⬩ Tips for both Universal Studios and Universal Islands of Adventure: 

• In both parks you'll have water rides, so make sure you pack accordingly, see below what to pack, as my first day I got completely soaked and had to improvise. 
• Take the Hogwarts Express to Universal Islands of Adventure to Universal Studios and back if you can, as they are two different experiences. 
• Choose the mornings/lunch time to do this as the queues get bigger at the end of the day
• Have water with you at all times
• You'll be required to look your things in free lockers at some rides, like Hulk, Harry Potter, Mummy, etc. so check the waiting times as some of those lockers are free only for a certain period of time. Usually is fine (I haven't paid anything) but take in consideration you may need to spend a few dollars for this. 

Universal Volcano Bay 
It's a big water park where you can spend the day as you like. You can chill at the beach area, you can take extreme slides, a lazy/more intense river route, intense-ish slides, doesn't matter what you

choose, it's going to be FUN. 
The only one I wouldn't recommend is the Volcano Red slider, it takes 7 seconds, but it was the worse 7 seconds I had as you choke in water and can't even open your eyes (you start the slide standing).
Other than this one, I would recommend all of them, see the map. If you go to the River Village are and have to choose between H and G, definitely H (the green one). 

💡Things to know: 

• Unlike other parks, this one opens at 10am and closes at 6pm
• The entire park has mild/hot water so you don't feel the temperature shock. 
• Restrooms have changing rooms and showers and there are family restrooms
• Lockers cost $12/day for medium lockers, $15 for large lockers and 7$ for mini lockers. It's a very secure environment, but you never know, so leave your valuables in the lockers. No problem in leaving the backpack and some non-valuable stuff at the chair in the beach. 
• You won't be needing your wallet. VB staff distributes a waterproof wearable (TapuTapu) that you can associate a credit card, through the app (you need to put a minimum spend) and you can pay in all stores and restaurants. Also, the wearable holds your place in the Virtual Line for one attraction at a time, see more info here. once you leave the park you return it to big containers that are equipped to automatically erase all your data. It's a peace of mind.
• Staff will refer to the water slides by their name which can be difficult to understand the difference (e.g. Maku of Maku Puihi and Puihi of Maku Puihi - easy right?)
• There are designed toilets for animals 
• Good accessibility, including chair-lift to the water at the beach area, lifts to some water slides, etc. 

🎒 What to pack for Universal Volcano Bay: 

• Sunscreen
• Sun glasses 
• If you wear contact lenses (or even if you don't) use water goggles, you can enjoy more and see everything
• Beach towel
• Flip flops
• Bikini/swimsuit 
• Water bottle
• Light clothes like shorts, tops, t-shirts, dress and a light jacket if you're going around November-December (it gets a bit cold after 5pm)

⬩ Tips for Volcano Bay:

• If you have to choose between slides, the darker the colour of the tubes, the intenser is the ride. Go for the intense ones, they are super fun. 
• I recommend you to stay in the beach and choose area 2 (search in the map for number 2), you'll have a quick access to lockers, toilets, smoking area and restaurants. 
• Grab food/drinks in one of the restaurants and eat at the beach 

I hope you have a wonderful time  🏖