28 Rides, Zero Regrets: Our Family’s First Universal Orlando Adventure

It may shock some people that I've been to Disney World multiple times, but only JUST took my first trip to Universal Orlando this November!

Why did we wait so long? Two reasons:

1. We really do love Disney. Every time we planned a theme park vacation, we knew, hands down, Disney was our destination.

2. We were… saving it. Saving Universal for the day our kids wanted something different. Bigger, badder rides. A whole new vibe. And we knew the time had come when we got home from our last Disney trip and my son announced his favourite ride was Guardians of the Galaxy. (If you know, you know.)

   
   

This July, they opened up an entire NEW park, EPIC Universe, so we booked the trip.

Normally I’m planning outfits, mouse ears, glitter freckles, the works. But this time? We didn’t overthink it. Didn’t Google much. We honestly assumed Universal would be like a chill Disney. Easy-Peasy.

We went Monday to Friday and stayed at Cabana Bay Beach Resort. Retro, clean, spacious, easy to navigate, and the bus system to the parks is super simple. The lazy river was great, and we enjoyed the hot tub. The pool was closed for maintenance because the water level was too high which… felt very random.

Mom Moment: There’s something about rolling your suitcase into a hotel room and watching your kids run around choosing beds like they’ve never seen furniture before. It’s pure vacation energy.

Universal Studios & Islands of Adventure (Day 1 & 2)

My kids were instantly hooked with Minion Mayhem and Villain-Con.

Mom Moment: When you’re on a silly ride like Minion Mayhem, don’t forget to look at your kids’ faces. That joy? That right there is better than the ride.

Right after our first ride we walked out and boom: a parade!I love an unexpected parade. I almost teared up when I saw the T-Rex turn the corner.

My son LOVES Shrek, so meeting him was a core memory moment. My daughter is obsessed with Gabby’s Dollhouse and she met Gabby. Zero lines. Ah-mazing.

Mom Moment: Before your child gets to meet their character, help them think of a good question they can ask them so they aren't just standing there not knowing what to do when it's their turn. If its a Character that can't talk- make sure it's a Yes or No question.

We took the Hogwarts Express to the next park, and being able to hop back and forth was amazing. Highly recommend!

Epic Universe (Day 3 & 4)

Epic Universe is… actually epic.

We loved Super Mario World. It’s insanely creative. The visuals, the sounds, everything. The rides (including the DK coaster) were… okay. But the land itself is jaw-dropping.

Mom Moment: When you’re in these massive themed areas, pay attention to what your kids notice. They see things we miss. I swear mine pointed out details that Imagineers probably forgot they even added.

Berk in How to Train Your Dragon? SO impressive. My Kids love the Dragon movies- so we got them their own pet dragons.

But, unexpectedly, Dark Universe was our favourite! We did Frankenstein and The Curse of the Werewolf multiple times. (My daughter opted for child swap every time, which honestly… fair.)

The overall design of Epic is incredible. We kept finding ourselves looking around in awe. For a brand new park...they nailed it.

Lines, Express Passes & The Ride That Broke Us

When we’re in Disney-mode, we always go all in on paying for fast passes (lightning lanes). At Universal they’re called Express Passes and this time, we skipped them.

Instead, we stalked the app and managed 28 rides in 4 days, which I think is pretty solid.

Worst part of the trip? Accidentally committing to a 3-hour line for the brand-new Harry Potter ride at Epic Universe, Battle of the Ministry.

Here’s the truth: I am SO proud of my kids for surviving that line. It was painfully long. Cool concept using floo powder to move inside… but we had already waited an hour before we even got to that part.

By the final stretch, I felt pretty anxious, maybe even claustrophobic. If you ask me how the ride was, I’d honestly say I was just grateful to not be in line anymore.

Mom Moment: You learn a lot about your kids in a long line. Patience, resilience, snack negotiations, and the ability to turn absolutely anything into a joke.

About our Harry Potter Experience...

We bought my kids wands as soon as we entered Diagon Alley on Day 1. The whole experience is magical.

But here’s the thing: my daughter picked a second-generation wand (Hermione’s) and my son chose a first-generation wand (Professor Snape’s). The second-generation wands light up and connect to the app… so my son felt disappointed immediately. If you have kids who need things equally: BUY BOTH second-generation wands. Trust me.

Pumpkin Juice: Loved it. Delicious. It's like spiced apple cider. Butterbeer: Didn’t try it. I know, I know.

Food Highlights

Pizza Moon (Epic Universe):I loved the purple pizza! My kids thought I was weird for eating it and stuck to pepperoni and cheese. My husband ordered the BBQ Space Cowboy pizza, not bad at all.

Green Eggs and Ham: Just a warning, your kids may be disappointed because the eggs are not actually green. They mix in some broccoli, but… still no. The tater tots though? So good.

Mom Moment: Theme park food is funny. Kids will reject anything even slightly “different” and then ask for snacks ten minutes later. We get points for packing our kids left over Halloween Candy, Granola Bars and Beef Jerky.

Final Thoughts

Universal really is like a chill Disney. If you’re a hardcore Harry Potter fan, I can see why you’d love it even more. (We’re not huge fans, but we like it!)

My favourite rides? The Mummy and Curse of the Werewolf, hands down.

Universal also handles crowds extremely well. Fewer people than Disney, mobile food ordering is seamless, and the lines, even when long, are very entertaining.

Mom Moment (final one): Kids won’t remember how perfectly you planned the trip. They’ll remember laughing on rides, trading sips of pumpkin juice, and the way you squeezed their hand when something scared them. That’s the good stuff.

Overall? A great family trip and definitely worth the wait.

Thank you Scott for helping us book the trip!

Ash