On The Road Travel

Escape to an island paradise at Loews Sapphire Falls Resort. From the stone turret in the lobby to the inviting charm of each room and suite, you're surrounded by a vivid and textured haven that is inspired by landmarks of the islands. Blue waterfalls cascade over lush grounds and in the distance, the calming sounds of steel drums call you to take in the scenic views, ease into island time, and let go. Amid the beach area, palm trees, and pool you'll find Caribbean-themed dining options, including a contemporary watering hole offering rare vintage rums. And each day, the exclusive benefits of staying in Universal are yours to enjoy. Sapphire Falls offers standard, lagoon, and pool view rooms with either 2 queen beds or a king bed and a pull out sofa. The 2 queen rooms can accommodate up to 5 guests when a rollaway is requested (additional charge). Kids, king, Sapphire, hospitality, and presidential suites are available for those who prefer to have a little more space to spread ...

Universal’s Endless Summer Resort - Surfside Inn and Suites & Dockside Inn and Suites - is the newest addition to the Universal Orlando Resort. While the resorts offer the same amenities and room types, the main difference is the theming of each resort. With plenty of standard rooms and spacious, two-bedroom suites that sleep six, it’s a great spot for families of any size to base their Universal vacation. Inspired by sand, sea, and breathtaking sunsets, Dockside Inn has a coastal vibe and comes with all the fun and convenience of staying with Universal—including awesome theme park benefits.  The rooms at both Dockside and Surfside are themed a bit differently, but have the same layout in both the standard room and the 2-bedroom suite. The classic rooms with two queen beds come in a standard view or pool view. Families will feel like they are at a beachy retreat in the spacious, 2-bedroom suites that sleep up to six guests. The suites include a kitchenette area, a cool picnic t...

Do you LOVE amusement parks? Do you dislike lines? Do you love to feel like a VIP? Universal Express passes are the PERFECT way to experience Islands of Adventure and Universal---without the long waits! You can achieve this in a few ways! The first and best option is to stay at an onsite Universal Hotel. 3 of the onsite hotels provide UNLIMITED turns in the express lines, simply because you are a guest of that hotel. These hotels include: Loews Royal Pacific Resort Loews Hard Rock Hotel Loews Portofino Bay Resort The 2nd way is to purchase an express pass to work with your ticket for an added cost. Universal Express Passes allow guests to skip the regular standby line – and use a special Express Pass line – at most of the attractions in the 2 park system. Express Passes provide you a “cut the line” sort of VIP experience with around a 15 minute wait time. (In my experience, I have never waited over 10 minutes while in the Express Line.) There are basic Express Passes where you get 1 ...

Get swept away to a place filled with tropical wonders, exotic food and carefree fun at Loews Royal Pacific Resort. A sparkling lagoon-style pool surrounded by a white sand beach and palms invites you to escape the hectic theme parks. Delectably innovative food and drinks delight every palate. Curl up in the comfort of your elegant island room or suite. Enter this tranquil South Seas retreat, leave the rest of the world behind, and unwind with all the benefits of being a Universal Orlando hotel guest. Whether you’re looking for standard rooms, club level rooms, or suites, Royal Pacific has a room for every travel party. The standard rooms, with two queen beds, come in garden or water view. These rooms can accommodate a fifth guest with a rollaway bed, offered at an additional charge per night. Guests get additional perks when upgrading to club level rooms or suites. You’ll get personalized concierge service, plus access to the private Royal Club Lounge, featuring complimentary continen...

Updated 7/26/2022 Be sure to request a Resort Guide at the front desk so that you can have the most up-to-date information about resort happenings and schedules. Looking for a modern and stylish place to stay? Universal's Aventura Hotel offers exclusive theme park benefits, is within walking distance of Universal's Volcano Bay, offers great views of all three Universal Orlando theme parks, and is underscored by a design that is vibrant, free-flowing, and calming. It's your chill zone, your party place, your hangout, your refuge. And I might add..... it's just plain cool. The rooms and suites of Universal’s Aventura Hotel provide a serene, modern environment in which to rest the mind and body. Uncomplicated, clean, and bright, these accommodations are at once contemporary and engaging. Standard and deluxe rooms at Aventura offer 2 queen beds or a king bed and sleeper sofa. The deluxe rooms are a bit bigger than the standard rooms. The kids suite sleeps up to five guests ...

Many people are very familiar with the Walt Disney World Resort and the top tips and tricks for visiting, however, the same is not always true for Universal Orlando, so we wanted to make sure you were prepared with our top 10 tips for visiting the Universal Orlando Resort! 1. Don’t take a large backpack Many, if not most, of the attractions require guest to put their personal belongings in a locker before getting on the ride. This is not optional, so there are complimentary lockers provided at these select attractions. The lockers are approximately 8in x12in and can’t accommodate a larger bag. If you need to rent a larger locker, the cost is $2, which I'm sure you'd rather spend on some goodies at Honeydukes instead. 2. Take advantage of the Coke Freestyle mug If you are a soda drinker, the Coke Freestyle mug is a great value for your park days. Refill locations can be found all throughout the parks, unlike the Disney World Resort mugs, which can only be refilled at - you gues...

Updated 7/26/2022 Be sure to request a Resort Guide at the front desk so that you can have the most up-to-date information about resort happenings and schedules. Live like a rock star and savor the perks of rock ‘n’ roll royalty with impeccable surroundings, posh laid-back style, and show-stopping service when you stay at the Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando Resort. Supremely talented chefs offer culinary nirvana from a famed steakhouse to delicious American classic cuisine. The California mission-style design—inspired by classic rock music—welcomes you to escape to a sensational world with a palm-lined swimming pool featuring underwater music, rock memorabilia, and recreation featuring live music—including some famous names. Your stay here rocks even more, because you get all the exclusive benefits of staying in Universal Orlando. Hard Rock Hotel’s standard guest rooms blend comfort and style in garden and pool view rooms. The deluxe rooms are oversized for maximum comfort and inc...

Updated 6/18/2022 Be sure to request a Resort Guide at the front desk so that you can have the most up-to-date information about resort happenings and schedules. Experience La Dolce Vita - the sweet life - at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at the Universal Orlando Resort. Guests can relax in surroundings inspired by the beauty, romance, and charm of the picturesque seaside village of Portofino, Italy. Wonderfully appointed rooms and suites welcome families home each day. Tempting outdoor cafes and shops dot the piazza around a serene harbor. Three enticing pools offer every level of relaxation. Incredible restaurants tempt every palate with flavorful culinary tours of Italy. Guests of the hotel also enjoy exclusive Universal Orlando Resort benefits. Portofino Bay offers standard rooms with garden or bay views. These rooms sleep up to 4 guests, and a 5th guest can be accommodated in a rollaway bed (additional charge). If you are looking to upgrade your experience, indulge in a club level roo...

Updated 7/30/2022 - Be sure to request a resort guide at the front desk so that you can have the most up-to-date information about resort happenings and schedules. Enjoy vibrant, retro style with rooms and suites brilliantly designed for fun and affordability at Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort. Relax with a splash, surrounded by amazing iconic architecture inspired by classic Florida beach resorts of the 1950s and 60s and sample a variety of options in the incredible food court. Every day comes with fun for all ages with two massive pools, a winding river, a bowling alley, and more. Cabana Bay Beach Resort offers standard rooms with two queen beds that sleep up to four guests. Family suites sleep up to six guests with two queen beds and a pull out sofa. The suite includes a sliding privacy partition and a compartmentalized bathroom layout so that three people can get ready at once. The suites include a kitchenette with a mini refrigerator, a microwave, and a sink. If you have your ...

Wouldn’t it be dreamy to have front of the line access to nearly EVERY attraction while visiting a theme park? Of course it would and it IS possible! Universal Express allows you to skip the lines at most Universal Studios Florida and Universal's Islands of Adventure attractions. This even includes all Wizarding World of Harry Potter rides! If you have purchased Universal Express, when you approach a ride with Universal Express, show your pass to the attendant. They will scan it and let you enter the Express Pass queue. Closer to the ride loading area, the Universal Express Pass queue will merge with the regular line. At this point, your pass will be scanned again. You will still likely wait at this point, but it is usually only 5 to 10 minutes, which can save a huge amount of time throughout your day at the Universal Resort! Universal Express Pass is not a group pass, so everyone in your party will need their own Universal Express Pass. The passes are also non-transferra...

Mardi Gras at Universal Orlando is family friendly, and as Universal says, “It’s Florida’s Biggest Party!" The celebration runs every night from February 9 through April 4, 2019, at Universal Studios Park! (Remember there are 3 parks at Universal Orlando ---Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and Volcano Bay.) You can enjoy and partake in the fun with nightly parades, colorful costumed performers, confetti and beads flying through the air, live music, New Orleans music/bands each night and Cajun food for purchase! Parade times vary---check your specific date of travel, app, or daily times guide. This fun is all included in your theme park admission! If you would like your smallest travelers to have a better viewing spot---head to the Little Jester’s Parade Viewing Area located in front of the Brown Derby Hat shop, for an unobstructed view. It opens 1 hour prior to the parade. There are also special ticketed packages for a Bayou Boil or a Dessert Party---all added parts of ...

For those of us who are seasoned Disney travelers, we are familiar with the dining plan options at Walt Disney World. However, for those that are not, here is a quick recap before we explore how the Universal dining plans are different. At WDW, we have three choices of dining plans. The Quick Service Dining Plan, Disney Dining Plan and Deluxe Dining Plan. Dining plans can be added to your WDW resort package when staying onsite at a Disney resort. The dining plan you choose is added for your entire length of stay and the number of dining credits you are allowed is determined by the number of nights you are staying. In addition, everyone on the reservation must have the same dining plan. Each guest ages 3 and over will get the dining plan if it is added to the reservation. When you add the dining plan, a resort refillable mug is also received by each guest, to use for unlimited refills on coffee, tea, soda and hot chocolate during their stay. However, take note this refillable mug can o...

Spring Break is the one time of year when it seems almost everyone gets some time off to go on vacation. Kids have the week off of school and most people have some saved up vacation. So how do you decide where to take your family trip? Spring Break can have a reputation for a “party vacation” and maybe that’s for you, but when you have younger kids in tow, it’s probably not the ideal. That’s what makes Orlando such a great choice for many families! You get the sun and fun you might get in Cancun, but with a little less party. One of the best reasons to visit Orlando during Spring Break is the annual Flower and Garden Festival at Epcot. This year, it spanned from February 28 through May 28, so no matter when your spring break is, you’ll be able to catch this wonderful festival. Not only are there beautiful topiaries and gardens throughout Epcot, there are also bonus food and drink kiosks! The festival also features the Garden Rocks Concert Series. Past acts have included Survivor, R...

So now that you’ve decided to stay at Universal, you need to decide where to lay your head at night. The ultimate Universal Orlando vacation begins at one of the spectacular on-site hotels. There’s one for every vacation style and budget, with thoughtfully designed rooms and suites. Guests choose from Universal’s one-of-a-kind portfolio of hotels in three categories: - Premier hotels promise beautiful escapes, distinguished service, spacious accommodations, unique experiences and more. - Preferred hotels offer relaxing getaways with the perfect blend of resort conveniences and amenities. - Prime value hotels are stylish resorts with rooms and suites designed for fun and affordability. Universal Orlando’s on-site hotel guests enjoy complimentary transportation from hotels to all three Universal theme parks and CityWalk. Plus, onsite hotels are a stroll away from both theme parks via paved, well-lit walkways. This is a quick overview of a few of the most popular resort amenities...

“While we are at Disney, we want to make sure we visit the park that has Harry Potter.” This is a common phrase that we hear from clients when we are collaborating on their family vacations. Some clients are surprised when we tell them that Harry does not reside at Disney - his home is at the Universal Parks across town. While some clients are happy to have one day at Universal to see the Harry Potter themed areas, others want to spend more time immersing themselves in the story and the experience. The team at On The Road Travel can help you conjure up a magical visit to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Diagon Alley. There are three theme parks at the Universal Orlando Resort - Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and the newly opened water park, Volcano Bay. To visit both Harry Potter themed areas, you’ll need to plan to visit Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Hogsmeade is located in Islands of Adventure (thi...