Adventures by Morgan

If you’re a Disney Adult wondering whether Universal is actually worth your vacation days (and money), you’re not alone – I asked myself the exact same question. I’ve been going to the Disney Parks since I was 9 months old, so it’s safe to say I’m a certified Disney Adult. Until this summer, I had been to Universal exactly two times in my life. Once when the first Harry Potter World opened, and again when the second one opened. Visiting these parks and seeing these lands was an absolute blast, but my family and I are not big thrill ride people. After those two trips, we never saw a reason to return as we couldn’t justify the price to only see the Harry Potter lands. Boy was I wrong!

One of the things that I love about the Disney Parks is that I can spend an entire day there, never ride a ride, and just enjoy the ambiance of the atmosphere. I can get a snack, people watch, ride the People Mover, and just vibe. I never felt like Universal had that same appeal. It is geared more to ride lovers and adrenaline junkies, but there is plenty to explore and tons of hidden details to find.

Lands And Atmosphere

While the Harry Potter inspired lands were by far my favorite, the park is pretty different from when I went years ago, or at least from what I remember. Most of my time was spent in Universal Studios, and after spending a lot of time in Hogsmeade, I did just a quick walk through Islands of Adventure. 

This was also my first time getting to ride the Hogwarts Express between the two parks. When I went the first time there was only Hogsmeade, and the second time we did not splurge on Park-to-park tickets so we could not ride. I thought this experience was top tier. Having visited right after being in London as well I think the train station was really well done. I loved the subtle nods to the movie in the queue and the whole journey was so fun.

The hidden details throughout Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade are astounding. I could have honestly wandered through there all day and tried to find all the references to the Harry Potter books and movies. The transition from the streets of London (including Grimmauld Place) to Diagon Alley is top tier, and was something that blew me away when I visited as a kid.

Something I think is really special was that you can’t see, or even really hear, what’s going on in Diagon Alley when you are not in it. So the reveal past the brick wall is even more magical. 

As I mentioned previously, I am not a thrill ride enthusiast and I also get motion sick. So, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey was an absolute no for me. However, I was able to walk through the entire queue and look at all the fun details, then I hit the chicken exit and exited! I’m so glad that I did this (and that the Team Member at the front gave me the right way to go so I could see everything) because there were so many incredible details. Walking through Dumbledore’s office was so cool. The best part was that the queue is SO long. So even though I didn’t ride, I didn’t end up waiting in line. I walked through the entire queue pretty much right up to the chicken exit. I only “waited” for maybe 10 minutes.

Seuss Landing felt similar in the sense that it was top to bottom theming with so many details and nods to iconic Dr. Seuss books! It truly felt like you stepped right into a Dr. Seuss book. For a Disney adult, this was right up my alley. The only downside was that I entered Seuss Landing towards the end of my time at Universal, so I didn’t get to enjoy it as much as I would have liked. When I inevitably go back, I will absolutely be spending more time here!

One thing I did not get to experience this time around that I definitely want to go back for is the entertainment, specifically the street performances. I was with a group this time around so wasn’t able to really check show times, be around for specific performances, but that is okay!

Entertainment

A friend of mine shared with me a lot of really fun street performances and shows that happen, specifically in Harry Potter world, that sound really awesome and really fun. They will absolutely be a priority for me the next time I visit.

Even when I visit the Disney Parks, I’m not necessarily always there to ride rides. I want to get a snack and sit on Main Street and see the Dapper Dans, or take a break from the heat and go watch the American Adventure. I’m very much looking forward to seeing what Universal has to offer in this department!

One of the biggest things that has kept me and my family from revisiting over the years has been the rides at Universal. I have a deep appreciation for what they do in this park, but between kids that get motion sick and do not like roller coasters bigger than Big Thunder Mountain, this park never really felt worth the ticket prices.

Rides

When I visited this time I went on some other rides in the park that either weren’t there when I went years ago, or that we simply overlooked in favor of spending the day exploring Hogsmeade.

Because I was also here in a group with kids we also rode the Trolls Roller coaster (multiple times by the way!) which is very similar to The Barnstormer at Magic Kingdom. So, if you’re bringing little ones to this park this is a great starter “thrill” ride to try out. 

I ran out of time very quickly for my day at Universal so there were so many other rides I wanted to try, but just simply did not have the time to. I can’t wait to go back and try more!

Food

I visited Universal in June of this year and it was HOT – as Orlando tends to be in the summer months. So truthfully, I didn’t eat that much. My focus was on water and electrolytes!

But, I did have lunch at the Minion Cafe in Universal Studios! I very much enjoyed the experience here! The cafe itself is fun, bright, and colorful – very on theme for the minions! The food itself was really good as well. As someone who wasn’t very familiar with the food options at Universal, I took to the internet for recommendations. One of the top recommended items was the Steak and “Cheese Ray” sandwich! According to the menu it is – “French onion dipped roast beef, caramelized onions, secret sauce, cheesy blast cheddar cheese on a cheddar & onion roll, served with Minion tots”

We also tried some of the desserts including The Minion Swiss Roll (vanilla cake with a pineapple cardamom whipped ganache, passion fruit “banana” with a chocolate shell) and Otto’s Pet Rock (peanut butter mousse, strawberry jelly, crushed peanuts, banana cake dipped in a chocolate shell)

Overall, the food was delicious! I found it most comparable to the food in Galaxy’s Edge where the food items themselves are relatively normal, but they are presented and configured in a way that is quirky, unique, and fits with the theme of the restaurant and land! The sandwich I had was definitely messy, but was very delicious! The desserts were also a little weird at first, but the peanut butter and jelly dessert was actually so good!

I can honestly say, I am SO happy that I gave Universal Orlando a second chance as an adult! Disney is still, and always will be, my home, but I can definitely see a world in which I visit more often than once every 15 years!

I hope to be back soon (with more time!) to try more things, eat new foods, and experience the entertainment! Drop any recommendations you have in the comments, or message me on any of my social media platforms! I also am more than happy to answer any questions!

Special thank you to my friend Ly Anne for giving me a run down of how to enjoy the park as a non-rollercoaster rider! I truly don’t think I would’ve known about so many things if it wasn’t for her!! – You can follow her over on Instagram @local.ly.anne

Have more questions – click here to check out another post with Frequently Asked Questions from Disney Families going to Universal for the first time!