Travelers often consider Walt Disney World Resort to be a weeklong destination, while only planning three- or four-night stays at Universal Orlando Resort. However, since the May 22 grand opening of Universal Epic Universe, there’s been a shift in Universal’s favor.
Currently, Universal Orlando Resort includes three theme parks — Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure and Universal Epic Universe — plus Universal Volcano Bay “water theme park,” 11 on-site hotels, and the Universal CityWalk shopping, dining and entertainment district, giving clients plenty of reasons to plan extended stays.
Growth at Universal
“We had two great parks, a water park and hotels, but we were banging up against how to continue to grow,” said Mark Woodbury, chairman and CEO of Universal Destinations & Experiences, during the 2025 Bank of America Media, Communications & Entertainment Conference.
To find the answer, Woodbury explained, Universal went to the source — its fan base — and asked what it would take for guests to give Universal more of their vacation time. The answer was simple.
Epic Universe is the most technologically advanced park Universal has ever created.
Credit: 2025 Universal Orlando Resort“[Fans said] give us more of what you do best and we'll give you more time — and that was the origin of Epic Universe," Woodbury said. “We launched into creating the most technologically advanced park we've ever created with some of the greatest intellectual property we could muster, and the results have been really strong. It's doing exactly what we wanted to do in terms of driving incremental attendance to the resort.
Fans said give us more of what you do best, and we'll give you more time
According to Jordana Izzo of Travelmation, Orlando continues to be the leading destination for theme park travel; however, she said, with the addition of Epic Universe — and the resort’s other three parks continuing to evolve — vacation lengths for Universal have “ticked up.”
That evolution has included the high-speed Jurassic World VelociCoaster, which opened in 2021 at Islands of Adventure, and the additions of the family-friendly Minion Land (with the interactive Villain-Con Minion Blast attraction) in 2023 and DreamWorks Land in 2024, both at Universal Studios Florida. Currently under construction at Universal Studios Florida is a new yet-to-be-announced roller coaster replacing the recently closed Rip Ride Rockit, with guesses for themes ranging from Ghostbusters to Fast & Furious.
The high-speed Jurassic World VelociCoaster opened in 2021 at Islands of Adventure.
Credit: 2025 Universal Orlando ResortKimberly Fidler of Get Away Today agrees that there’s been a shift in Orlando vacation behavior.
“We're seeing more split stays — and sometimes guests are staying longer at Universal Orlando Resort than at Walt Disney World, which used to be the opposite,” she said. “We’re also booking a fair amount of Universal-only vacations.”
And there’s still more in the works.
According to Karen Irwin, president and COO of Universal Orlando Resort, a slate of new attractions is already in development for every one of the theme parks — including additions at Epic Universe.
“We are bigger and better than we’ve ever been before,” Irwin said. “Even though Epic Universe feels a little bit like a finale, it really isn't. There’s so much more to do and so many more stories to tell.”
What Clients Can Expect at Universal Orlando Resort
Universal Studios Florida is home to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley, as well as areas and attractions themed to “The Simpsons,” the Minions and “Shrek.” This is where clients can ride the Revenge of the Mummy indoor coaster, Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon, Transformers: The Ride-3D, the interactive Men in Black Alien Attack and the iconic E.T. Adventure. Universal Studios Florida is also the park taken over by the haunts of Halloween Horror Nights.
Universal Studios Florida is home to Shrek, Princess Fiona and Donkey.
Credit: 2025 Universal Orlando ResortUniversal Islands of Adventure is the location of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade, the dino-themed Jurassic Park River Adventure and the Jurassic World VelociCoaster, plus Skull Island: Reign of Kong, The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, The Incredible Hulk Coaster and the family-friendly Seuss Landing area.
Clients with park-to-park tickets can take a magical journey onboard the Hogwarts Express train from Hogsmeade Station in Islands of Adventure to London's King's Cross Station in Universal Studios Florida (and back).
Universal Epic Universe consists of five immersive worlds: Celestial Park, Super Nintendo World, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic and Dark Universe, themed to Universal's iconic movie monsters.
Dark Universe at Epic Universe is themed to Universal’s iconic movie monsters.
Credit: 2025 Universal Orlando ResortClients can also access Epic Universe from the 500-room Universal Helios Grand Hotel using Universal Orlando’s first dedicated theme park entrance. Universal Stella Nova Resort and Universal Terra Luna Resort are both within walking distance of the park.
Universal Volcano Bay is a highly themed water park featuring a lazy river; a kids' water play area; and a variety of water slides and tube rides, including the Krakatau Aqua Coaster and Ko’okiri Body Plunge, which features a 70-degree fall through a drop door at the top of the park’s 200-foot-tall Krakatau Volcano.
The Ko’okiri Body Plunge features a 70-degree fall through a drop door at the top of Volcano Bay’s 200-foot-tall volcano.
Credit: 2025 Universal Orlando ResortHotel Options
In partnership with Loews Hotels, Universal Orlando Resort operates 11 on-site properties, including the Signature Collection with Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel, Loews Royal Pacific Resort, Loews Sapphire Falls Resort and Universal Helios Grand Hotel. There are also the Prime Value Universal Aventura Hotel and twin 750-room Epic properties, as well as Value Inns and Suites offerings, including the retro Universal Cabana Bay Beach Resort and two hotels at Universal Endless Summer Resort: Surfside Inn & Suites and Dockside Inn & Suites.
Sign Up for Our Monthly Family Getaways Newsletter
I accept the T&C and Privacy Policy.
All Universal Orlando hotel guests receive early park entry (including to Epic Universe) and complimentary resort-wide transportation. Clients staying at Portofino Bay, Hard Rock and Royal Pacific have the added benefit of complimentary Universal Express, which provides expedited access to select attractions in the two original parks. Universal Express for Epic Universe must be purchased separately.
Suggested Seven-Day Universal Orlando Itinerary
For clients looking to spend six or seven days at Universal, Get Away Today’s Fidler suggests two or three days at Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida, one day at Epic Universe, one day at Volcano Bay and a rest/resort day.
Clients will want to spend a day relaxing by the pool and enjoying hotel amenities.
Credit: 2025 Universal Orlando ResortHere’s how clients can plan their stay:
Day 1: This is the perfect day to relax by the pool and enjoy hotel amenities, including a retro bowling alley at Cabana Bay, the Wantilan Luau at Royal Pacific, live music at Hard Rock or an alfresco opera performance at Portofino Bay.
Day 2: Clients with park-to-park tickets can spend the day at Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure — and the Hogwarts Express makes it easy to travel between the two. For clients with single-park tickets, Universal Studios Florida should likely be the priority.
Day 3: Clients should plan to spend an entire day at Epic Universe to explore Universal Orlando's newest park’s five immersive worlds. Beginning in January 2026, Epic Universe will be included in "park hopping" privileges for guests with park-to-park tickets.
Day 4: Clients will definitely want to spend a day at Universal Volcano Bay, Universal’s island-themed water park. Advisors should note that Volcano Bay is scheduled for an extended closure from October 2026 to March 2027.
Day 5: This is a good time to explore CityWalk, which includes restaurants; shopping; a movie theater; two miniature golf courses; and Universal’s Great Movie Escape, featuring family-friendly escape rooms themed to Jurassic Park and “Back to the Future.”
Universal’s Great Movie Escape features escape rooms themed to Jurassic Park and “Back to the Future.”
Credit: 2025 Universal Orlando ResortDay 6: A second day at Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure ensures clients can ride anything they missed the first day — and revisit their favorites. This is also the day for clients with single-park tickets to visit Islands of Adventure.
Day 7: Clients with afternoon or evening flights have time for one more meal at CityWalk — and, of course, last-minute souvenir shopping.
