Planning a Universal Orlando Vacation on Short Notice

Joseph Matt May 13, 2022 0 Comments Vacation Planning Guides

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Time, the ever-flowing river, it always seems we never have enough of it. Especially when life throws last-minute surprises your way, like a Universal Orlando trip. Maybe your child was picked to travel to a jai alai tournament or you and your spouse need to go getaway, quickly. Whatever it is, planning a Universal Orlando vacation on short notice is nothing to stress about. In this article, I will cover tips for making the best of your trip, including touring tips and restaurant recommendations.

Updated June 14, 2023

Determine the Trip’s Who, What, When, and Where

Your mind is probably racing right now, but do not worry we will talk you through everything. Take a moment, breath, and think through these questions:

Who is going with you on the trip?
- This sets your travel party and will guide your choices later in the article. Keep in mind any special accommodations or needs such as wheelchairs, medication, allergies, and diets.
What is the goal of this trip?
- Know why you are going to avoid disappointment. Is this just a trip to the theme parks, Aunt Mildred’s 50th birthday, or a cheerleading competition? How does Universal Orlando fit your goals?
When is the trip?
- A trip during the week in September will have different expectations and costs than a trip during Christmas.
Where are you staying?
- Do not take the chance of flying down to Orlando without a room reservation. Our travel agents can help you find the best deal for free.

Keep these answers in mind when you make decisions throughout the rest of the planning.

Book A Hotel

If you have not yet booked a hotel in Orlando do so now as hotels will and do fill to capacity. The last thing you want is to land in Orlando and realize the only hotel with a vacancy under $400 is far away.

Universal has two large hotels that frequently have rooms when others are booked:

Universal’s Endless Summer Dockside Inn & Suites – Over 2000 standard rooms and two-room suites with rates starting in the low $100s per night. Light theming to beach vacations with driftwood art, nautical imagery, and a relaxed atmosphere
Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort – 2200 standard rooms, family suites, and two-bedroom suites. Rack rates start around $150 per night. Cabana Bay is themed to Atlantic Ocean motels from the 50s and 60s and features two swimming pools, a bowling alley, fire pits, and more.

If Universal’s hotels are booked the following off-site hotels are located close to the theme parks:

Double Tree at SeaWorld (Touring Plans Rating 4 1/2 Stars) – Sprawling campus offers relazxing atmosphere with onsite dining, pool, and upgraded rooms. Limited shuttle access is offered to the parks.
Rosen Shingle Creek (Touring Plans Rating 4 stars) – A resort with great dining, a 18 hole golf course, and beautiful rooms per our reviewer. Limited shuttle access is offered to the parks.
Double Tree at the Entrance to Universal Orlando – Modern rooms, onsite dining, and a pool. Shuttles are provided to the parks but this one also has a 15 minute walking path to CityWalk.

Understand the Attractions

Universal’s attractions are elaborate and grand, where rides wisk guests through New York with Spider-man, party with the Minions, escape a vengeful Mummy, and even fly above Hogwarts. Their attractions are more intense than Disney’s, focusing on scary imagery like spiders or physical forces like a roller coaster.

Start with the attractions we consider not to be missed:

Universal Studios Florida

Islands of Adventure

Understand each attraction’s height requirements, restrictions, and ride type before deciding if that attraction is for you. YouTube is an excellent resource to find fan-made point-of-view (POV) videos of attractions including their queue and child waiting areas.

Restaurant Roundup

Universal’s quick service and table service options are on par with Disney’s non-signature restaurants.

Theme park fast food, called counter service, has improved significantly over the past decade. But bad burgers and pathetic pizza still exist. Here are the highest-rated counter service locations with the lowest waits:

Today Cafe (Universal Studios Florida)
Green Eggs and Ham (Islands of Adventure)
Fire-Eaters Grille (Islands of Adventure)
Red Oven Pizza Bakery (CityWalk)

Most Universal full-service restaurants are easy to book a few days out, with only Toothsome requiring reservations weeks out. We recommend these table service restaurants for same-day availability:

The Kitchen (Hard Rock Hotel)
Finnegan’s Bar and Grill (Universal Studios Florida)
Antojitos (CityWalk)
Confisco Grill (Islands of Adventure)
NBC Grill & Brew (CityWalk)

Dining reservations can be made online or by calling 407-224-3663.

Make a Touring Plan

We love touring plans so much that we named the company after them! Our touring plans are built using patented software and data gathered in the parks. You can access our plans by purchasing a Touring Plans subscription or The Unofficial Guide to Universal Orlando. If you purchase tickets or a hotel through our travel agents you will receive that Touring Plans subscription for free.

If touring plans are not your party’s style, make sure to follow these three tips:

Arrive Early! – Arriving 60 minutes prior to park opening will cut down hours of waits later in the day.
Take a mid-day break – Leave the park after lunch, or grab lunch off the property, and return to the parks after a rest.
Hit Major Rides Hour Before Closing – Experience the major attractions you did not see in the morning before the park closes. All rides close their queue at the park close and will let anyone in line ride.

Buy Your Tickets Ahead of Time

Resist the urge to purchase tickets at the gate and save money by buying online before you arrive. Tickets sold at the gate cost $20 more than buying online or through a travel agent. Online tickets can be printed out at home, picked up at the parks, or scanned off the phone. Tickets purchased through our travel agents also come with complimentary Early Entry to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

If you are traveling with a Potter-head make sure to purchase the park-to-park tickets so they can ride the Hogwarts Express.

Set Up The App

Download the Universal Orlando app for iOS or Android and create a Universal Orlando account. Log in and connect your admission to your phone; even if you do not use your phone for admission it can be used if your ticket is lost. We also suggest attaching a credit card to your account for mobile ordering in the parks and using TapuTapu tap-to-pay purchasing at Volcano Bay.

But Most of All, Have Fun!

Theme park vacations are expensive beasts where people stress about getting their money’s worth. But they should be a time to relax and have fun with people we love. Follow our guide, showed up early, have a plan, and you will have a great time.