There are few theme parks in the world that can match the excitement of a visit to Universal Studios Florida. On our most recent trip to Orlando, we set aside two full days to explore both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. This is our honest review of our visit to Universal Studios, while our next article will dive into Islands of Adventure.
It had been three years since our last visit to Universal Orlando, and we were curious how it would feel returning with two older teenagers. Visits to Walt Disney World so far on our trip had been magical, of course, but there’s an appeal to Universal for families with older kids. The thrill rides are bigger, the theming is arguably better, and the atmosphere leans more towards fun, fast-paced movie inspired adventure rather than pure nostalgia. We loved every second of being back here — as did our girls and my husband.
Walking through Universal’s CityWalk is the perfect way to start your day. Passing under the giant Universal Orlando sign, we could feel our excitement building as we strolled past its restaurants and stores, and that huge Universal Studios Store which was impossible to resist calling into. The girls immediately wanted to check out the latest merchandise — from Epic Universe to Harry Potter — and it’s fair to say we could have spent a fortune before even setting foot in the park.
But of course, no trip to Universal is complete without those iconic photo stops. First, the rotating Universal globe, then the arches at the entrance to the park. We took our photos, and couldn’t wait to get back to the park.
Our first stop was one of Universal’s newest attractions at this park: Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast. This is nothing like anything you’ll find at Disney — an interactive moving walkway where you use a blaster to take on villains, racking up points as you go. Immediately our competitive streaks came out.
My husband was determined to top the leaderboard, but the girls soon put pay to that dream, easily outscoring him. It’s fun, fast, and chaotic, with a very different energy to Disney’s equivalents like Toy Story Mania.
The whole Minions Land is brilliantly immersive, bright and colourful. We couldn’t resist popping into Bake My Day Café, which is as Instagrammable as it is delicious. The Minion-themed cakes and cupcakes are almost too pretty to eat.
We were lucky to bump into Agnes from Despicable Me as we walked to our next ride. At Disney, you expect to queue for ages for character meet-and-greets, but here it was refreshingly relaxed. We were able to walk straight up for a photo, making it feel much more personal and spontaneous.
Next, we braved Transformers: The Ride 3D. The kids liked this motion simulator but I’ll admit it’s not for those who suffer with motion sickness. The graphics, effects, and story are impressive, though.
From there we wandered into one of my favourite parts of the park: New York. The level of detail here is astonishing. From the brownstone façades to the bustling backdrops, you genuinely feel like you’ve been transported to the Big Apple. It’s the kind of immersive theming Universal does so well, and it makes just walking around here an experience in itself.
We couldn’t resist popping into the Back to the Future store. As huge fans of the films, it was great to look through the gifts for sale here. Sadly, unlike the movie, there was no copy of Gray’s Sports Almanac on the shelves, but browsing the merchandise was still a treat.
Over in San Francisco, nostalgia hit again as we spotted the Jaws photo-op. For long-time visitors to Universal, the Jaws ride remains a dearly missed classic, and we couldn’t resist snapping a family picture here.
One of the most immersive areas in any theme park worldwide is, of course, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley. Entering through a nondescript brick alleyway and suddenly finding yourself in Diagon Alley is a goosebump moment, no matter how many times you’ve seen it.
Shops line the cobbled streets, from Ollivanders to Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes, each brimming with magical details. Above it all looms the giant dragon at the top of Gringotts Bank, who periodically roars and breathes fire — a spectacular sight that never fails to impress.
We checked out a few shops and called into the Leaky Cauldron to check out breakfast options (yes, they do include a free Butterbeer at breakfast). It was busy, and we did find staff a little less friendly than at Disney, but the theming more than made up for it. Also don’t forget to stop off at the three-storied Knight Bus and have a chat with the conductor and the talkative shrunken head, it was so much fun. You can even check out the back of the bus for great photo ops and see the curtains, beds, and the ornate chandelier inside.
I highly recommend downloading the Universal Orlando app before you visit, this provides all of the showtimes and ride times allowing you to plan your day here. We timed things perfectly to catch Universal Orlando’s Horror Make-Up Show at 11am. This stage show is a clever mix of comedy, history, and practical demonstrations showing how horror movie monsters are brought to life. Our eldest daughter was enthralled, laughing throughout and so impressed that she went back later in the day to watch it again.
After the show, we strolled through Hollywood Boulevard, another beautiful area of the park. The art deco architecture, the Walk of Fame-style stars on the pavement, and the characters bring it all to life. We spotted Marilyn Monroe posing for photos, along with Marge from the Simpsons and Scooby and Shaggy — a great mix for all ages.
As our visit was just before Halloween Horror Nights, we also saw the scare zones and staging being set up. Even in daylight, they looked genuinely frightening! Now that the girls are older, HHN has gone firmly onto our list for a future trip.
No trip to Universal Studios is complete without riding E.T. Adventure. It may be one of the park’s oldest attractions, but for us it remains one of the best. Boarding bikes and flying through the night sky is pure magic, and it’s a ride that appeals across generations. , Meeting the Madagascar characters on the way there was a nice surprise, too.
A brand-new area for us this trip was DreamWorks Land, recently reimagined from the old KidZone. We missed Shrek, Fiona, and Donkey outside Shrek’s cottage, but we did enjoy the Trolls Trollercoaster — a fun family coaster towards the park of the park.
This is something that often surprises families: Universal isn’t just for older teens and thrill-seekers. Across both parks, there are plenty of rides and shows for younger children, many of which rival Disney’s. Add in the chance to meet characters like the Minions, Shrek, and Madagascar’s King Julien, and there’s plenty of family-friendly magic here too.
One of my husband’s highlights was meeting Doc Brown from Back to the Future. Chatting with him next to his iconic DeLorean (and the train from the third movie) was a real thrill. For long-time fans, it was another reminder of Universal’s incredible movie heritage. Again, we discussed how good it would be if Universal brought a Back to the Future ride to the park.
Walking into Springfield feels like stepping straight into an episode of The Simpsons. The attention to detail is phenomenal, from Duff Beer stands to the Krusty Burger counter, the Kwik-E-Mart, and even Moe’s Tavern.
Inside Moe’s, you’ll find the Love Tester machine, the classic bar stools, and of course, the chance to order a Flaming Moe — which turned out to be one of our favourite themed drinks of the trip.
We loved the Kang & Kodos Twirl ‘n’ Hurl ride — think Disney’s Dumbo, but with the Simpsons aliens twist.
Nearby, we took on Men in Black Alien Attack, another brilliant interactive shooting ride where you’re competing for the highest score. All of us loved this one, and it became another competitive highlight of the day.
Holly brought along her interactive wand from our last visit, and to our delight it still worked perfectly. There are interactive points throughout Diagon Alley where you can cast spells and make magical effects happen, from shop windows to hidden alleys. It’s an extra layer of fun that really brings the films to life.
We also discovered that you can chat to the interactive goblin at Gringotts and even exchange U.S. dollars for Gringotts bank notes, which can then be used to pay for things in the Wizarding World. A lovely touch that makes the experience even more immersive.
The must-do attraction here is, of course, Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts. Entering beneath the fire-breathing dragon and descending into the vaults is unforgettable. The ride itself is a multi-dimensional mix of coaster, simulator, and dark ride, and it’s nothing short of breathtaking. Honestly, I struggle to think of a single Disney ride that matches it for immersion and thrills. It really is like stepping into the movie.
For long-time visitors, the old Terminator 2: 3D attraction was a classic and remains one of my husbands favourite attractions at Universal. Now in its place is The Bourne Stuntacular — and it is sensational.
This show cleverly mixes live-action stunts with a huge digital screen to create a seamless action movie unfolding right in front of your eyes. Jason Bourne leaps from rooftops, dangles from helicopters, and speeds away on motorbikes, while live actors perform incredible stunts on stage.
Throughout the park, we continued to see more of the Halloween Horror Nights sets and merchandise, each one looking scarier than the last. Even though it wasn’t running during our visit, it gave us a taste of just how spectacular (and terrifying) this event must be. One coaster that we had still to experience was one of our favourites from a previous visit the Revenge of the Mummy, and as we rushed forwards and back on the track, fleeing from the evil Mummy it still remains one of the best rides here, we loved it.
At the park entrance, we popped into Wicked: The Experience. This new immersive exhibit showcases costumes, props, and photo ops themed around Elphaba and Glinda. For fans of the film, it’s well worth visiting.
After a long but thrilling day, we headed back out into CityWalk for dinner at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. We knew the theming would be excellent, and it was — with props and memorabilia from the film decorating every corner. What surprised us was just how good the food was. The service was fantastic too, and the girls rated it as one of their favourite dining experiences of the trip.
Because we had park-to-park tickets, we hopped over to Islands of Adventure for the evening. We’ll share more about that park in our next article, but the highlight was undoubtedly seeing The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle for the first time. Watching projections dance across the castle as the four Hogwarts houses were celebrated in light and sound was pure magic.
Before the show, we revisited Seuss Landing, which had always been a favourite when the girls were younger. It was lovely to experience it again — from The Cat in the Hat to One Fish, Two Fish — before heading into Hogsmeade as dusk fell. Hogsmeade is just as spectacular as the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley. We cast more spells and took advantage of the low wait times to take multiple rides on the Flight of the Hippogriff family coaster.
We took advantage of our park to park tickets to catch the Hogwarts Express back into the Universal Studios park to catch their spectacular show, CineSational: A Symphonic Spectacular. This was our first time at the show and it was incredible, with its clever mix of drones, water fountains, and cinematic music to tell stories and bring movie characters to life, and made for the perfect end to our day at Universal Studios.
Final Thoughts
Universal Studios Florida delivered everything we hoped for and more. Returning with teenagers made it a very different experience from our last visit, but one that we loved just as much. The mix of thrilling rides, immersive theming, character encounters, and spectacular shows makes it one of the best theme parks in the world.
For families debating whether Universal is “just for older kids,” our advice is simple: don’t underestimate it. There’s something here for every age, from the playful fun of Minions and the new DreamWorks Land to the thrills of the Mummy and Gringotts.
Walking back through CityWalk at the end of the day, we all agreed — it had been one of the highlights of our Orlando trip. Universal Studios remains a park we’d happily return to again and again, and it’s safe to say we left already planning our next visit.
Ready to book?
From the UK, the best value tickets for Universal Orlando’s can be purchased in advance at Attractiontickets.com – these include unlimited 14 day access to the Universal Studios, Universal Islands of Adventure and Volcano Bay Water Parks.
For more information on Universal Orlando, its mobile app, parks and hotels – I highly recommend visiting the official Universal Orlando website.