One of my college kid trips to Universal

Yes yes, we all know that Disney gets most of the love and can sometimes be considered "the golden child" in Orlando and California, but you'd be remiss if you didn't share some of that love with Universal.

Universal Studios Orlando and Universal Studios Hollywood are AMAZING vacation destinations that both require an in-depth level of planning and understanding from your Travel Advisor. I am a that Universal junkie that understands the parks and can help you plan your perfect trip. The parks are FUN, the thrills are HIGH and the immersion is next level. Super Nintendo World at Universal Hollywood and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter feature theming and immersion that is second to none. In fact, I caught the Orlando theme park bug at Universal, NOT at Disney like most folks! The very first time I visited a Florida theme park (besides a 1 day fly by visit to Magic Kingdom when I was 9 years old) I was in college and was visiting family in Florida for winter break. One of my cousins wanted to go to Universal and I begrudgingly tagged along, only to have my mind completely blown and have one of the most memorable days of my life.

I made a promise to myself that I would get back to Orlando and experience Universal and Walt Disney World the right way. Somehow, I made it happen and on a shoestring college kid budget, I was flying back into Orlando for a week and a half with my best girlfriend and we spent every single day in the parks from open to close. We visited all 4 Disney parks and Universal Studios, Universal's Islands of Adventure, and Universal's Volcano Bay. 

Since that trip I haven't been able to stay out of the parks longer than 6 months at a time, and every single time I get on the Hogwarts Express is just as incredible as that very first day I visited. Now that I'm no longer a college kid and have freedom in my schedule I make the trek to Orlando and California about 5-6 times a year. I've stayed in all of the Universal Resorts, have ridden and experienced every ride and attraction, have done the VIP tour on both coasts, and have become an expert in all things Universal.

If you have tweens or teens in your group, Universal is perfect for your family. Universal can absolutely be a standalone vacation or a pre/post add on to your Disney vacation, but you 100% still need the help and expertise of a Travel Advisor that specializes in theme park and Universal vacations on your team.