There’s something wonderful about returning to Universal Orlando with your grown-up children in tow. Our first visits were all about wide-eyed excitement, character meet and greets, and chunky trainers in order to get little heads above the height requirements!
Now, the “kids” are teenagers and adults, taller than me, and ready to take on the parks in a new way. It feels like we’re enjoying Universal Orlando on the same level, the thrills hit just as hard, but we get to share the laughs (and the screams) together.
This holiday plan was particularly exciting, marking our very first visit to Epic Universe, Universal’s brand spanking new theme park, and one we’ve been desperately waiting to explore!
Endless Summer Resort – Surfside Inn and Suites
We checked into Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Surfside Inn and Suites for the first time and honestly, it was such a fab choice for a family trip. The suites are made for groups (sleeping up to six) so we could all stay together without tripping over each other. Two doubles in the main area and a separate double bedroom, even a little kitchenette. The kitchenette was a game-changer, perfect for quick snacks, keeping drinks cold, and easy breakfasts that saved us time (and dollars) before hitting the parks.
The resort itself is super chilled with a fun, surfy vibe. And the best bit? Free shuttles whisk you to the parks every morning, so no faffing with parking or traffic, just pure Orlando holiday mode from the get-go!
You can read a full review over on Girl About Travel (https://girlabouttravel.co.uk/article/endless-summer-resort-review/)
Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure
So, onto the parks! We couldn’t resist diving back into the classic Universal Orlando parks first. Universal Studios remains timeless, with E.T. Adventure, Revenge of the Mummy and The Simpsons still bringing out the nostalgia. The kids really loved making mayhem with The Minions and taking their last chance to enjoy the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit before it closes permanently this summer. I’m really sad to see it go <sniff> but on the other hand it’s another reason to return, to see what replaces it as part of ‘Project 830’!
We were all thrilled to catch the Hogwarts Express to Kings Cross Station for the first time as well, it’s so realistic, all that was missing were the chocolate frogs! (*The 2 park ticket is required for the Hogwarts Express)
Exit the train station into Islands of Adventure, even in this long-established park there were new things here for us too – it was Macks first time being tall enough to ride The Incredible Hulk Coaster with its stomach-churning launch, and he loved it! (if you’re riding The Hulk make sure you use the lockers before you get in the line for the ride – even if you only have your mobile phone, the metal detectors will pick it up and you’ll have to go back!)
For me there is nothing quite like walking through the huge Jurassic Park gates with the music playing, it’s one of my favourite moments in any of the parks! (I’m a huge fan!!) and, new to all of us, was the Velocicoaster. Opened in 2021 and running at 70mph, it is one for the thrill-seekers! Could it be the best ride we’ve ever been on? Quite possibly!
Honestly, the joy of these parks never diminishes, as the kids have grown older, each visit brings something new, not just in terms of the rides, but in how we enjoy them together. It’s like some kind of magic, I think!
Epic Universe
The real thrill on this trip was stepping into Epic Universe for the very first time.
It was everything we’d hoped it would be! The theming is amazing!
We didn’t get there in time for ‘rope-drop’ but we still managed to cover most of the rides that we wanted, it’s a big park, but you can cover a lot in one day. We went for the outdoor rides first, saving the indoor rides for later in the day in case the weather changed. It does mean backtracking through the different worlds, but in our case, it paid off, as the rains came in the late afternoon.
Super Nintendo World
If I had to pick a favourite ‘world’ I think it would have to be Super Nintendo World, it’s absolutely mind blowing! The theming is SO good. It really feels like you’ve stepped into a Mario game, with colourful scenery, moving characters, and interactive touches everywhere.
Bowser’s Challenge was amazing, an action-packed ride that puts you right in the middle of a Mario Kart race with 3d visors, and we loved Yoshi’s Adventure, a gentle family-friendly ride where you climb aboard Yoshi for a tour of the land. The new Donkey Kong area is just as impressive, with a mine cart thrill coaster that captures the excitement of the classic game, it’s not for the faint hearted. Ride this one early, as it closes for rainy weather.
Don’t miss the Toadstool Café either, with clever “windows” showing Chef Toad working in the kitchen and other Toads running around causing chaos outside. The food is tasty, the QR code/table service makes it easy, and the whole experience feels completely immersive. I’m not gonna tell you what to eat, but the soup bowl is SO cute, the servers wait to let you take your photos and then they take the lid away (I think people must have been taking them home!).
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic
The brand-new Ministry of Magic area is a real treat for Harry Potter fans. We braved the single rider queue for the main attraction ‘Battle at the Ministry’, sometimes it’s a win, sometimes not much quicker than the regular line, but that’s the gamble you take!
The ride itself is brilliant, blending motion and screens to pull you right into the Wizarding World, it’s a must if you love the films, it’s still fun if you’ve never seen them, but you might not recognise some of the characters in the ‘story’.
To enter the Ministry, you “apparate” through the Floo Network fireplaces, which is such a clever touch and really sets the scene. The theming of the world is gorgeous, with a magical Parisian backdrop inspired by Fantastic Beasts, and the live entertainment adds so much atmosphere. If I had to make one recommendation it would be to go to Le Cirque Arcanus. The street performers bring the area to life, but the circus-style show is so cleverly done, its colourful, fun, and absolutely not to be missed.
The Dark Universe
The Dark Universe is such a fun, gothic corner of Epic Universe, I loved it here. It’s moody, dramatic, and as the clouds rolled in at twilight it really added to the atmosphere. The entry portal states “It’s alive! It’s alive!” which sets the tone perfectly.
The best ride here, for me, is the Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment. A wild ride where your feet dangle free as you swing through the air, twisting and turning while being “chased” by various monsters and creatures. The sensations are bizarre in the best way, you’re flung around in all directions at some points you even feel like you’re flat on your back. The other big ride, Curse of the Werewolf is a thrilling, spinning outdoor coaster, it can make you feel a bit queasy, but it’s definitely worth it!
Food-wise, Das Stakehaus is fab. The gothic interior is as dark as it gets, but the food is good, the burgers come in black bread buns that look a bit freaky but taste amazing. All in all, Dark Universe is a clever mix of thrills, theme, and eerie fun, it appeals to my inner goth and it’s even better when you explore it after dark.
How to Train Your Dragon, Isle of Berk
This world honestly feels like you’ve stepped straight into the How to Train Your Dragon films. The theming is spot on, with towering Viking buildings, sea views, and dragons swooping overhead. This was the busiest world when we visited, the queues were quite long, and there isn’t a great deal of shade. A ‘sunbrella’ would have been really useful here!
The dragon merch is adorable, and younger kids will love the character meet & greets. Make sure you catch ‘The Untrainable Dragon’. It’s a live show, about 20 minutes long and has fantastic special effects.
Heading back to Universal Orlando with the children now they’re older was wonderful, they get so much more out of the rides, the theming, and the whole experience, and it’s brilliant to share that excitement together. Epic Universe is another park that caters to families of all ages. It has gentle rides, interactive elements and colourful shows as well as full-on coasters, there’s something for everyone. It’s the perfect place for a family trip where everyone finds their own highlights.
**Big thank you to Universal Parks and Resorts, who gifted Sally and her family a one-night stay at Endless Summer Resort and one day, two-park tickets to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, in exchange for a frank review of her experience.**
Article written and images by Sally Bendall @girlabouttravel.
Some images supplied by Universal Orlando
