Universal Orlando Resort

Right off the bat, you get squeezed 12.00 for parking. Tickets into the park(s) were grossly overpriced. Many of the workers could use some type of training in customer service. We didn't see very many of them smiling, either. A few of them were helpful but the majority seemed unhappy. Their system of scanning fingerprints and ticket barcodes to enter the park was terribly inefficient. It rained the day we were there and the leaks were unbelievable. I mean, there were leaks INSIDE several buildings. My kid was next in line to have his picture taken with Sponge Bob in the gift shop - which, of course, was strategically placed at the end of a ride (Jimmy Neutron, I think) - when one of the workers started yelling about a leak. The leak formed a large pool of water on the floor, ending the photo op. There were also leaks - I mean, really big leaks - from overhead coverings when standing in line at several rides. How could that be? It certainly wasn't the first time it ever rained in Florida. Shouldn't Universal have addressed those issues? The lines weren't long but this was more than likely due to the weather. The food at Mel's Diner was overpriced. The shakes weren't bad but our burgers were very dry. There were barely enough tables in there to seat all of the people who were eating. The management of the Men In Black Alien Encounter (or whatever) was extremely poor. As we were getting in line, we were told that all bags had to be stored in small lockers off to the side. This meant getting out of line and walking over to the lockers which didn't have a direct route and was a total mob scene with everyone and their proverbial brother trying to get a locker and narrow walkways. The hold-up was that you are assigned a locker by entering information onto a touch screen. There were two screens that I saw and a mob of people trying to get at them. No workers were around to help or control the scene. No lines. Just a mass of people trying to get to the screens. Plus, part of the deal was that you hadda get your finger scanned. After the ride, it was much of the same. You hadda go to one of the screens and press some buttons to access your locker. To give you a better idea of what a mess this was, after punching in the requested information, a light on your locker goes on which, I guess, helps you locate it quickly. My locker was more than a few feet away from the screen. After I entered my information, the light went on and before I could get to it, some kid saw the light and opened my locker. Now, once the locker is shut you can't get it open. The system "thinks" you removed your belongings. So the girl saw something in the locker and started to shut it and I hadda yell for her to stop before the door closed. What a mess. Oh, and if you don't retrieve your belongings within 45 minutes or so, you have to pay to get your belongings back! I will say that many of the rides we went on were clever and interesting. This includes Jimmy Neutron, Shrek, Men in Black, Simpsons (which was in the old Back to the Future building, I think), Terminator and Spiderman. ET was so boring that it was painful. And so was the Storm Accelertron (sp?). While on the subject, we thought that many of the Universal rides were blatant knock-offs of Disney rides. ET was like a cross between Peter Pan and Small World; Storm was pretty much the same as the Mad Tea Cup; and Men in Black was like Buzz Lightyear. I can't imagine us going back again. In fact, the only reason why we went was because my wife got a free ticket as a promotion by Universal during this year's Super Bowl. (Remember the Denny's free breakfast promo?)

THIS IS SUPPOSE TO BE A 4+ STAR UNIVERSAL RESORT. THE ROOMS WERE MAYBE A 2 STAR, NOTHING FANCY AND POORLY CLEANED. ALOT OF COB WEBS IN THE ROOM,DIRTY GLASSES, DUSTY SURFACES, AND WALLS WERE IN POOR CONDITION, CARPET VERY DIRTY. THE ONLY THING GOOD ABOUT THIS RESORT WAS THE SUSHI AT ORCHIRDS ONE OF THE 4 RESTURANTS AT THE RESORT. I ATE AT JAKES AND THAT WAS THE WORST FOOD. I HAD TO SEND MY PLATE BACK TWICE AND STILL WAS NOT ANY GOOD. I WOULD LIKE ALL TO KNOW , I AM NOT WRITTING THIS BECAUSE I WAS MAD ABOUT SOMETING AND WANT TO GIVE A BAD REVIEW, THIS IS MERELY THE FACTS!!! I STAYED 6 NIGHTS THIS HOTEL AND MY ROOM WAS NEVER REALLY CLEANED. ALL TEH MAIDS WOULD DO WAS EMPTY THE TRASH, MAKE MY DIRTY BED SHEETS (NEVER CHANGED THEM EVEN WHEN I REQUESTED) EVERYDAY, AND LEAVE FRESH TOWELS. TEH MAIDS NEVER WIPED DOWN ANY SURFACES NOR DID THEY CLEAN THE NASTY SHOWER FROM DAY ONE(SHOWER WAS DIRTY UPON ARRIVAL). I REALLY HAVE TO ADMIT IF YOU REALLY WANT TO COME TO ORLANDO TO HAVE SOME WONDERFULL FAMILY FUN GO TO DISNEY WORLD. BECAUSE BETWEEN THE ACCOMIDATIONS AND THE EMPLOYEES AT UNIVERSAL IT IS CLEARLY A WASTE OF YOUR TIME AND MONEY. I HAVE TO ADMIT THAT ALMOST EVERY EMPLOYEE AT THIS RESORT AND UNIVERSAL CLEARLY MADE IT KNOW THAT THEY DID NOT LIKE THERE JOB. HOW MUCH FUN IS IT TO BE ON VACTIONS WITH PARTY POOPERS LIKE THAT.... GO TO DISNEY. I HAD A WONDERFULL TIME THERE !!! The meal deal is a joke and teh emplyoyess act like it is a act of congress to serve you.

Signs and markings to get to parking very bad; took us about 45 mins to get to parking. Another 30 mins to get to and through ticketing (we had already bought tickets--had vouchers). Park closes at 6 pm. They have photo claim tickets similar to Disney; when we got home and went to look at pics, they were someone else's. Got several at Disney parks & all were right. Employees here are not close to as helpful and friendly as Disney's. We will get extra day at Disney next time!

September 19 & 20th 2009. I bought 6 tickets along with express passes, spent almost $700.00 only to arrive 10minutes before the park was to open and thier will call did not work at all. Stood in line at guest services for 45minutes, I'm not exagerating because they only put one person in the booth. If you complain they have you wait another 15 minutes to get you a manager that wont give their last name. Spoke to 2 managers Pauline and Lisa at Universal Studios Orlando that wont give you their last name because it's company policy . These mangers have no training on how to deal with the public they are obviously in the wrong workfield. By the way the express pass is not to be used more than only 1 time per ride!!! Something they dont tell you and it cant be used in the new ride ROCK IT!! Most concessions stands were closed still at 11:00 AM. If it's cause they are cutting back, in these hard times dont spend your money somewhere they simply don't care about their customers. Ohh I forgot their was alot of people having problems getting in with the index finger ID that simply would not read, and they would call management and they were no where to be found, so expect to wait if that happens to you. Blue Man Group should be a part of Disney they are an AWESOME show, and Universal Studios should not be associated to them in any way. These 3 guys and the whole entire crew are in a class above UNIVERSAL STUDIOS!!

My family go to Florida every year and UNIVERSAL never DISAPPOINTS US. From the TERMINATOR TO THE MUMMY. Both of these adventures where special so I know that the HARRY POTTER EXPERIENCEwill be even better. We taken advantage of the Flex Pay last year so if they still have this PLEASE GET IT!

IT WAS SO FUN WHEN ME AND MY FAMILY WENT WE GOT THE 2 PARKS PASS AND THE FAST PASS WHEN WE WANTED TO GO TO WE WENT TO THE RIDE PARK AND THEN WE WENT TO THE SHOW PARK THING AND THE SHOWS WERE REALLY COOL SPECIAL EFFECTS AND IT REALLY FEELS REAL MOST UHHMAZING PARK I BEEN TOO SO NOT A WAIST OF MONEY AND I WOULD PEFER THE FAST PASS OR EXPRESS WHATEVER ITS CALLED BECAUSE THE RiDES HAVE VERY LONG LINES ESPECALLY THE FAMOUS RIDES.JAWS WASNT A VERY FUN THING SO JUST TO ADD THAT IN AND TWISTER WAS REALLY COOL ITS LIKE YOUR ON THE MOVIE SET ! BUT TOTALLY COOL PLACE TO GO! AND WE WENT IN THE BEGAINING OF JAN. SO THEY HAD A PARADE ITS RLLY COOL THERE WANNA GO BAK SOON!

It's a shame people who are not as fortunate cannot even consider such places. Taking advantage of the very Best Deal, it would cost our family $600 just to get in the gate! That says nothing for travel, food and hotel. If we brought our own snacks, slept in the car and drove 60 the whole way, we could maybe pull it off around $1000. Who has that kind of money? Sure would like to shake your hand. We recently adopted 2 brothers and will never regret it, but it does make us wonder why large families are not taken into consideration more in places like this. You would think parks that encourage "family fun" would allow for large discount packages. I'm not talking about 10% off the most expensive hotel, or free sodas in the park. I'm talking about something that will actually make it possible to plan such a trip. Any ideas??

We just got back from Orlando and had a blast at Islands of Adventure!! For this years vacation, we limited our choices to one water park and one theme park. We chose Wet-n-Wild and IOA since we had not been to either before. Both rate high for thrills and excitement. Since we are a family of four adrenaline junkies, we chose IOA because we wanted to do more rides than shows. The best rides were the Incredible Hulk, Spiderman (3-D) and Dueling Dragons. We also enjoyed the water rides in Toon Lagoon. While we were there we saw the construction signs for Harry Potter and wondered what was being built. Now that we know, we will definitely plan to return. The Dueling Dragons will be part of the "Wizarding World of Harry Potter" but is open now. If you can stand the longer wait time, the best way to experience this ride is front row!! CAUTION: IOA has higher height requirements for three of its main rides - the Hulk (54"), Doctor Doom's Fearfall (52") and Dueling Dragon (54"). This really upset my daughter who has just grown to the 48" required for most other roller coaster rides. Last note, for the Pteranodon Flyer ride you must ride with a child (btwn 36" to 56"). It was a good ride, but short considering the long wait time. Only two flyers were operating at a time with two persons (adult and child) to a flyer.

If you love universal, YOU HAVE TO GO when they have the Halloween Horror nights.. We went and only had planned on going to it for one night.. We ended up going 3 nights in a row.. They do leave some of the rides open at night too as an added bonus to the horror houses and scare zones. I would go back to Universal JUST for the Halloween Horror Nights.. We had a GREAT trip.. I like Universal better than Disney.

This is the BEST IDEA EVER! I can't wait to don my house robes and take a ride!!! I will SOOO be there in 2010 for the Harry Potter convention and opening of Universal's wonderful attraction!