There was a time when everything at Universal Orlando Resort could be done in one day. Those times are long gone now as the resort has expanded into a multi-park campus with a number of onsite hotels and an entertainment district. These days you’ll need at least a few days to experience the majority of what Universal has to offer. The best and most convenient way to visit Universal is by combining your park visits with a hotel reservation into a vacation package. Universal’s vacation packages not only add a level of added convenience to your trip but also come with a few perks that can make your visit even more enjoyable.

Vacation packages consist of park tickets combined with a hotel reservation and can be booked for one of Universal’s onsite hotels, as well as a number of offsite partner hotels. Many of the package perks are the same as the ones included with an onsite hotel stay like resort-wide transportation and merchandise package delivery. While the offsite hotels can be booked separately from your park tickets, the reservation must be included in a Universal vacation package to take advantage of the added benefits.

A basic Universal Orlando vacation package consists of a hotel stay bundled with park tickets. Stays can be as short as one night and one day in the parks, but there are also a number of special packages available throughout the year that usually require a minimum stay. These packages can come with a few extra perks depending on the time of the year, and any special events happening like special access to Halloween Horror Nights. The most popular specialty offering is the Wizarding World of Harry Potter package. This package gives guests park tickets and a hotel stay as well as breakfasts at Leaky Cauldron and Three Broomsticks, Shutterbutton’s Photography Studio Session, and a welcome box with Harry Potter luggage tags and lanyards. If you’re a Harry Potter superfan, this package is the perfect way to experience the Wizarding World at its best.

The first and most important benefit of booking your Universal Orlando visit as a package is the convenience of having all of your plans linked together. Combining your park tickets with your hotel reservation allows you to easily organize and track your plans. This can greatly simplify your trip planning and logistics, allowing you to relax and enjoy your stay even more. To make the booking process even easier, we suggest the use of a Travel Planner that specializes in Universal like our friends at Key to the World Travel®. A Travel Planner with extensive knowledge of Universal Orlando Resort can not only help you figure out all of the details of your trip, but also handle all of the booking and logistics for you.

Booking your stay as a package also allows you to spread the cost of your visit out. Universal Orlando vacation packages can be booked with a minimum deposit of $150, with the balance of your package due 45 days prior to your arrival. This can allow you to manage your budget and pay off your vacation in installments that work best for you.

Usually, the perk that entices guests to purchase a Universal vacation package the most is the Early Park Admission. Universal’s Early Park Admission allows guests staying at an onsite hotel to enter one park (Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and Volcano Bay) an hour before posted opening. During this hour, package and hotel guests get access to some of the park’s most popular attractions, with little to no wait times. Mainly, this consists of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter lands, but Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem at Universal Studios Florida is usually also open. Early Park Admission is usually limited to one park per day but Universal does extend the perk to more than one park during busier times of the year like the holidays.

If you’re ready to book your Universal Orlando Vacation package you’ll want to head over to our list of current Universal Orlando promotional offers. This is an up to date rundown of all special packages available at the resort as well as applicable dates and details.

If you need help planning your perfect vacation, contact our friends at Key to the World Travel® for a free, no-obligation quote for your next trip. Click here.

Professor Heather

Heather is the proud owner of Theme Park Professor and Winds in the East Travel. For over 10 years, she has been covering everything from the latest merchandise to breaking news for her readers. As a New York native, Heather makes sure to visit the Orlando parks a few times a month, especially during the colder months. After all, what’s the point of having a Walt Disney World Annual Pass if you don’t use it?

Heather is a self-proclaimed Potterhead and also visits the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and the rest of Universal Orlando Resort multiple times a month. So, “Wands up!” for all the fellow Potterheads out there!