Universal Studios Orlando re-opened this month to the public! I know a lot of families are clamoring to get into the Orlando theme parks. We visited pre-Covid with a baby and a toddler in tow, and learned a lot about the parks and the layout, which I think will be helpful for anyone looking to head to Universal Studios in the future. (Universal Studios’s up to date Covid information and current guidelines are found here.)
Universal Studios Orlando Background Info
I hadn’t been to Universal Studios in 10 years before my recent visit, and I had to research it! Here is the quick and easy breakdown. There are two main theme parks: Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. There are different attractions in each park, so be sure to check out the park details to see all the rides and themes in each park. Harry Potter Hogsmeade is in Islands of Adventure, and Harry Potter Diagon Alley is in Universal Studios.
Universal CityWalk is an area with shops and restaurants, right outside both these main parks (similar to Downtown Disney at Disneyland or Disney Springs at Disney World, except it is directly across from the parks and very easily accessible). The “on-property” hotels surround the parks, and you can access the parks by walking to them or by a little boat system (which is sort of fun but not always necessary)! There is also a water park, called Volcano Bay, which we did not visit (it is also surrounded by on-property hotels). Complete map of the whole Universal Studios property is found here.
Hotel: Loews Portofino Bay
You have many options for hotels in Orlando, and at Universal Studios itself. I visited with two girlfriends and our kids. I was the only one to opt to stay on property, and I don’t regret it! Staying on property often costs a bit more, but I was happy to have easier days in the park with a baby. It was so easy to go back and forth from the hotel to the parks/or Universal CityWalk. Bebe and I would make our way into the park after his breakfast time (a 10-15 min walk), and stayed in the park through lunch. Then, we could leisurely stroll back to the hotel for a break from the heat and take an afternoon nap before meeting up at CityWalk or at a restaurant at the hotel for dinner with our friends.
We stayed at the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, and it was a great fit for us. The hotel has an Italian theme, with the rooms looking out on a little harbor and piazza. There are several restaurants and little shops on the piazza, which was so convenient with a baby because I could pop right down for breakfast or dinner easily. The hotel also has three pools on site, and offers special theme park benefits to guests, including entrance an hour early into the parks. They also provide a kids’ club for kids ages 4+.
We took advantage of many of the Portofino Bay restaurants, including:
- Bice Ristorante – white table cloth, a little fancier. Bebe cried and no one batted an eye, bless them.
- The Thirsty Fish – perfect for pre-dinner drinks right on the piazza (and feeling like you are in Europe!)
- Trattoria del Porto – the staff was so sweet and let me have a nice long brunch while Bebe took his mid-morning nap on our last day
- Starbucks – right below our room, perfect for an afternoon coffee
Best Park Attractions for Babies and Toddlers
Bebe was truly a baby when we visited, so we focused on attractions that we could stroll through while Bebe mostly snoozed and things that would be fun for my friend’s 2 year old. Our favorites were:
- Harry Potter: Diagon Alley (Universal Studios) and Hogsmeade (Islands of Adventure) – Half the fun of Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade is experiencing it! Walking through, my friend and I had just as much fun as our kiddos: drinking butterbeers, seeing the dragon roar, watching spells be cast, and going into all the shops. Many of the rides were not suitable for small children, and it didn’t matter a bit.
- Harry Potter: Hogwarts Express (must have a ticket for both Universal Studios and Island of Adventure) – this train ride takes you between Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade (and also between the parks). It is open to every single age (I was not required to wake up a sleepy Bebe!) and fun for all. There was a scary part when a Dementor came by our cabin, but it didn’t bother the 2 year old as she had no context for the meaning.
- Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat (Islands of Adventure) – This area is so terrific for little kids. We caught a live storytime, and there are rides accessible to small toddlers. There is also a terrific bookstore with all the Dr. Seuss books, and of course I picked one up for Bebe as a trip souvenir.
- Play Areas (both parks) – While we snoozed at the hotel for an afternoon nap, my friend and her toddler explored the play areas at Universal Studios. They had fun at the splash pad in Curious George area, and there is also Fievel’s Playland and Barney’s Backyard — all of which would be perfect for Bebe’s current stage as a toddler! These play areas are super-themed and very cute. There are also several dedicated play areas in Islands of Adventure that we did not have a chance to visit.
- Themed Restaurants (both parks) – We had such an easy time finding meal options in both parks. One day we ate at the 50s themed cafe, Mel’s Drive-In, at Universal Studios, and the next day at the Three Broomsticks in Islands of Adventure. Meal service was speedy and had a lot of kid friendly options.
- Exploring the Different Themed Areas of the Parks – This is perfect for toddlers, who like to be able to walk on their own and get into everything! Passing from the New York themed areas into the Hollywood themed areas (and so many more), there is so much for kids to look at, and (during non-Covid times) lots of parades and character interaction throughout the day. We spent 30 minutes entertaining the toddler with a parade that came through! She loved dancing with the characters.
How is Universal Studios Different than Disney?
Disney World is really big – it has 4 theme parks plus 2 water parks, and a restaurant/shopping area. Universal has 2 theme parks and 1 water park, and a restaurant/shopping area. Universal is smaller and more compact – it is easier to walk from many on-property hotels right up to the theme park gates, whereas Disney has a lot of space between the parks and only a few hotels are walkable to any of the parks (and if walkable to one park, it is likely not be walkable to the others). As to the attractions, Universal has fewer rides geared towards young kids, but more large scale, dedicated play places for littles. On the whole, Universal was also less crowded than Disney, so toddlers could move more freely on their own without getting lost or underfoot.
I really enjoyed our trip to Universal Studios, and found it extremely low-maintenance (which is amazing when you’re traveling with a baby!). It is very friendly to families with small children – I loved that once you were on property you did not have to leave or get in the car, it was easy to walk to and from the parks throughout the day, and lots to see and do for all ages. I definitely recommend it for a family theme park vacation!