The Millennial Farmhouse

Florida. There are so many things one can say about Florida. However, you cannot deny that they have some of the best theme parks in the United States. If there is one thing that I can absolutely claim about Florida – it’s a must-see travel destination. In March 2024, I went on a family friendly vacation to Universal Orlando Resort in Orlando, Florida. My sister wanted to treat herself with an affordable graduation present, and it’s more affordable to visit Universal theme parks in the off season. I quickly joined in on her trip along with my brother and niece. It was nice to travel out-of-state for this vacation, and the timing was perfect for us. I am sharing what it was like for a family of four to travel to Universal Orlando Resort in this travel guide. First, I will go over just how affordable this vacation was, and then I will get into the vacation guide for where to stay and play during your trip.  

Affordability

Let’s get the money talk out of the way. I also read travel blogs and tips that most people put out there, but no one ever really delves deep into the “money” of it all. Just how affordable is it to travel to Universal Orlando Resort? Well, it certainly isn’t cheap. We are a working class family, and on this trip we had three workers and one minor to consider. Among the three adults, we paid for our flights, ground transportation, and theme park tickets separately. Then we split the cost of a hotel suite among the three of us. My sister paid for my niece’s portion of everything because she invited her and had initially planned for just the two of them to take this trip together. In addition to major expenses, we had to consider the day-to-day expenses during the trip. It costs money to eat and drink, to shop or buy souvenirs, and to engage in other experiences outside of the Universal theme parks. I will break down some of our expenses below, and to keep track of expenses and activities, I created a spreadsheet that we used.

Flights 

We paid about $300 – $400 roundtrip, per person. Our family tends to fly with United Airlines because you can get decently priced flights and their rewards program is decent, as well. If you have miles to use, then your flight costs could be even cheaper. I paid a little less than the rest of my family for this trip because I did use some of my miles. Prior to booking our flights, I used Hopper to watch for flight costs and changes. In addition to costs of your flight, consider budgeting for airport food ($10 – $20 pp), in-flight refreshments, and wifi ($10). You certainly don’t need these things, but put them in your budget anyway. 

Airport/ Ground Transportation 

A lot of people book rental cars when they travel, but we did not want to do that for a few reasons. We chose a hotel that had connections with an airport shuttle and a theme parks shuttle. In addition, it would have been more cost-effective for us to walk or use ride shares if we wanted to venture to other areas close to the hotel. After doing some research, it would have cost between $30 – $50 to get from Orlando International Airport (MCO) to almost anywhere in the Universal Orlando area, whether we used a rideshare app, airport taxis, or shuttle services.

Our family booked Universal’s Superstar Shuttle which takes you to and from MCO to any Universal partner hotel. It costs $39 for adults and $29 for children, roundtrip. To get to Universal theme parks, we stayed at a hotel with a free shuttle that operated all day. Further, we ventured off-campus to stores and restaurants that were within walking distance to the hotel, so we didn’t spend any additional money on transportation. 

Hotel

There are so many hotels in the Universal Orlando area, but we chose to stay at a partner hotel. I will go into more detail about the hotel below, but it was more affordable in the off season. We booked a two-bedroom suite with 3 queen beds at a family-centered hotel. We stayed for 4 nights, booked early in the off-season, and split the costs of the room between three adults. The hotel costs just over $1000 for the room alone. There were additional expenses to be expected, like restaurants and room-service and the costs of on site entertainment. 

As with most hotels, dining on site is expensive. To help alleviate some of the costs, we went to the local Walgreens and bought snacks and water bottles to last us the week. Any time we got hungry, which definitely happened after swimming or walking around the parks all day, it was nice to grab something to eat in the room without having to think about the costs, especially after spending a lot of money earlier in the day. I would suggest budgeting about $50 – $75 for a family of four to buy food and drinks for your hotel room. You can also save some money by packing some of those snacks into your bag and bringing them into the theme parks to eat throughout the day. Theme park food is super expensive. 

Universal Orlando Resort 

Universal Orlando Resort is a themepark that consists of three different parks and a “boardwalk/mall”. There is Volcano Bay (waterpark), Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida (theme parks) and Universal CityWalk (shopping mall/boardwalk). Universal CityWalk is an outdoor shopping and dining plaza, so you can imagine just how much money you might spend unexpectedly. Who goes shopping or out to eat and spends exactly what they expected? I know that is a hard thing to do. I suggest you budget at least $50 per person depending on what you want to do there. 

As for the theme parks and water park, you can expect to spend a minimum of $200 per person for basic tickets. Universal Orlando Resort offers different types of tickets that allow entrance into 1 park on any given day or all three parks on the same day. You can also get passes for multiple days, VIP lines, special experiences, meals, and more. While it is nice to book direct, I suggest checking out Undercover Tourist. This site sells legitimate theme park tickets at a discount, and they even have sales and deals so you can purchase your tickets even cheaper than expected. I booked my theme park tickets during a two-day sale, so I got an even bigger discount than what they usually sell the tickets for on the site. 

Finally, spending money inside the parks is sure to be an expensive endeavor. When you book your tickets, you are only paying for entrance into the theme parks and access to the rides, unless you book special packages. You will still have to pay for food and drinks, games, souvenirs, and miscellaneous items and experiences. You can expect to spend at least $15 – $20 minimum every time you buy something. There are cheaper things to be bought, of course, which are most often found at random booths in the parks. However, when you stop into a restaurant to eat or shop for quality souvenirs in some of the more popular areas, you will ultimately spend more money. 

Spending time in the theme parks is an all day experience, so it makes sense that you will be spending money all day long. You can however, save money by bringing in your own snacks and refillable water bottles, or you can buy refillable cups in the park that allows access to unlimited refills at Coca Cola stations. There are also other refillable souvenirs that cost a fixed price upfront and then a discounted cost for refills throughout the day. You might see people with souvenir popcorn buckets or Harry Potter Butterbeer mugs, which are refillable for a discount on popcorn or other fountain drinks. 

Overall Affordability 

A family trip to Universal Orlando Resort is affordable with some planning. It is definitely a trip that you might have to save up money for, but you can do it. In the off season, you can expect to spend about $1000 per person minimum on the major aspects of your trip. That estimate increases based on your preferences for accommodations, flights, theme park amenities, and miscellaneous expenses. You can expect that estimate to double or even triple during peak tourist season. In determining how expensive a trip to Universal can be, I would give it an 8 on a scale of 1 – 10. It may be expensive, but it is worth it. 

Accommodations 

We stayed at a Universal partner hotel. They have a collection called Endless Summer, and it includes the Dockside Inn and Suites. 

Pros: 

• Affordable 
• Complimentary theme park shuttle 
• Two pools with bars and game areas
• Starbucks and adult bar in the lobby 
• Coastal themed rooms and suites 
• Gym access 
• Early park admission to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
• Universal Studios gift shop 
• Location/ distance to the parks

Cons: 

• Dining – expensive food court styled services 
• No hot tub/ whirlpool – would be nice to have after a long day of walking around in the sun
• Thin Walls 
• Game Room – additional cost for mediocre games 

Local Area 

If you are visiting in the area and you want to do things outside of Universal theme parks, then there are plenty of options. There are many restaurants and attractions that are a short car ride away and provide a ton of fun experiences. 

• Egg-Celente – brunch spot with great service and food worth the price 
• Ihop/ Denny’s – ehh it’s food 
• Mini Golf – there are a ton of mini golf experiences near International Drive 
• Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition – perfect for vacationers who like to visit museums 
• Shopping – there are a lot of malls and local stores near International Drive 
• Lakes – take a stroll around one of the many lakes you will see and just enjoy the warm weather and views 

Universal CityWalk 

This plaza is an outdoor mall similar to a boardwalk near the beach. There are a lot of shops and restaurants that you can venture into around a lake. You can easily spend a few hours here dining, shopping, watching a movie,engaging in karaoke or playing mini golf. 

• Universal Cinemark – catch a movie at an affordable price 
• Hollywood Drive-In Golf – mini golf with vintage themes 
• Voodoo Doughnuts – specialty donut shoppe with photo opportunities 
• Universal Studios Globe – Iconic rotating globe perfect for photos 
• Hard Rock Cafe and Gift Shop 
• The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium – an exciting and sweet shop and restaurant 
• Margaritaville Grill – Jimmy Buffett’s restaurant which is family friendly and super fun 
• Bob Marley – A Tribute to Freedom – restaurant with live music 

Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida 

If you love rollercoasters, carnival games, concessions, superheroes, television and movies, and Harry Potter then these two theme parks are definitely for you and your family. From the moment you enter the parks to when you leave your senses will be overwhelmed with fun and adventure. There is something for everyone in the parks. 

I highly suggest you visit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. It is the perfect experience for Harry Potter lovers. You can ride roller coasters, taste butterbeer, travel on the Hogwarts Express, tour the Hogwarts Castle, experience live performances, and live out your wizarding fantasies. You can visit Hogsmeade in Islands of Adventure or explore Diagon Alley in Universal Studios Florida. With a park-to-park ticket, you can ride the Hogwarts Express between parks. In addition, Universal sells Harry Potter packages in which you can dine at the Three Broomsticks or Hog’s Head, engage in a professional photoshoot, and engage in an ice cream session. It really is magical. 

Other things to do:

Universal Studios Florida 

This park is great for rides, but better for dining, shopping, and walking around. Every time we walked along a different street, we entered a different land. You can find Diagon Alley, Central Park, San Francisco, and more. During Carnival it can feel like you’re in New Orleans just by turning a corner. You will find most live performances in this park. Check it out here.

• Minions – check out Illumination’s Minion Cafe 
• Richter’s Cafe – quick burger joint similar to In-and Out 
• The Hopping Pot – get yourself some butterbeer! 
• Diagon Alley – shopping 
• The Night Bus/ Grimmauld Place – take photos
• Beignets – during Carnival and so delicious! 
• Carnival games near The Simpson’s ride 
• Many more rides and places to eat all around the lake 

Islands of Adventure 

This park is perfect for riding roller coasters and playing games. You can expect to spend a lot of time here soaring through the air on different rides and racing to get to the next ride before the crowds increase. Check it out here.

• Hogwarts Castle – completely wonder-filled and stunning for Harry Potter fans 
• Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Ride – extremely popular and you will see people running to this ride 
• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey – this was a fun one, especially after walking through the castle!
• Carnival Games near Jurassic Park – perfect for mini challenges and a break from the roller coasters 
• Seuss Landing – the perfect area for little kids with bright and colorful games, rides, and dining experiences 
• Marvel Superhero Island – a must see experience for comic lovers 
• The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman – this ride was fun and thrilling and perfect for those who want adventure but fear roller coasters 
• Restaurants with Iconic Themes – you can shop and dine with characters and vintage vibes 

Volcano Bay 

I do not have much to share about Volcano Bay. My family didn’t want to visit this park because we chose to spend our money elsewhere. Volcano Bay is a huge waterpark with water features and restaurants. While waterparks can be extremely fun and even relaxing, we did not feel like a water park experience was necessary for this vacation. I am including the link so you can do some research. 

The trip to Universal Orlando Resort is worth it. My family had a blast spending our time between parks and swimming at the hotel. There is so much to see and do, that everyone will benefit from a trip like this. I highly encourage your family to spend time planning a trip to Florida for a fun-filled and exciting adventure. While it may be expensive, it will be a time filled with memories you won’t soon forget. I hope this travel guide has helped you and inspired you to book the trip. Universal Orlando Resort is waiting!