I'm so happy we've gotten to experience Universal. It was a different pace than Disney, in a good…read moreway, now that my kids are older teen and adult ages. We had a beautiful day to visit and smiled throughout the day. Some of our best moments were walking through the various city streets and seeing musical performances and dancing. The walkways were wide and we were never on top of other guests. Most rides had reasonable wait times and/or offered single rider options. The locker areas for cramped, but I appreciated how many of the wait queues were indoors, keeping us cooler and away from the rain. The Harry Potter sections were amazing, just amazing. I couldn't have imagined how it would have felt being in the middle of the space. Restaurants, both sit down and quick service, were scattered throughout the park. I loved that we didn't have to worry plan in advance to get a spot at either. My only downside to Universal Studios is that some of the themes felt outdated or just aren't favorite characters of mine. At least this helped to decrease the temptation of spending money on apparel or merchandise.

Somehow on a March weekday my sister and I got to get on most major rides at Islands of Adventure…read moreand then took the train over to Universal Studios Florida and got on just about every major ride here, too, except for the Fast and Furious dark ride and I think I picked well by skipping that as it doesn't seem to be too popular. (I haven't seen a single one of those movies either!) I'm much more a fan of roller coasters than motion simulators so I like Islands of Adventure a good deal more than USF. I also like the theming more, apart from the Springfield area and Diagon Alley. The whole studio backlot/cityscape isn't as interesting to me. It's still a pleasant looking park though. The layout seems more confusing than IOA which is really straightforward and simple. Maybe part of it is this was my maiden voyage to USF while I'd been to IOA once before but there's just more nooks and crannies here. I've done reviews for most of the major rides and Diagon Alley. Simpsons and Transformers are elite, E.T. is a wonderful blast of nostalgia and weirdness we must protect at all costs, Escape from Gringotts is way overrated even if the queue theming and preshow is superb, I got no love for Jimmy Fallon or his stupid ride, the indoor Mummy coaster is surprisingly good still leaves this park's coaster lineup lagging way behind its neighbors, Men in Black is okay but not worth waiting in a long line for and the Minions shooter game was a quick diversion I never even bothered to do a review for. I'm just seeing we missed another Minions ride, a motion simulator. It was such a whirlwind of queues with almost no wait I guess it was easy to miss one. The Blues Brothers musical revue was an absolute blast with an awesome setting. And the Mardi Gras parade wrapped itself around the city streets around the diner where my sister and I ate dinner with us looking out the window and had parade to spare both before and after our meal! It went on for over half an hour. Universal didn't chintz out on that at all. Cast members, floats and flying beads aplenty. There were more shows, too, with stuff like behind the scenes on how Hollywood does makeup, stuff like that. We skipped these but stuff like this is why I wish I'd gotten my parents to this park before they passed. They'd have loved stuff like that, the Blues Brothers and the Hogwarts express. They seemed to like Islands of Adventure okay but I think they'd have liked this park considerably more. The theming, too, I think they'd have enjoyed more. This park closed a couple hours early on the weekday we visited, booked by some high rollers for a private event so we ended our day where we started at Islands of Adventure. And though I like that park more, with a Fast and Furious coaster on the way to USF I think I'd be more eager to return here and ride that and spend more time exploring and soaking in the vibes at this park.

Fun Spot America is a long-established business here in Orlando, Florida that can appeal to both…read morethe tourists and those of us fortunate enough to call Orlando home. It is nostalgic coming here and a great place to bring kids. Think like an old-school carnival or fair that is here year-round and you are just scratching at the surface. I would definitely recommend here. Go check it out and indulge the inner child within you.

I recently brought two students here for a field trip and we had a good time overall!…read moreWe purchased tickets through Groupon for $62 (regular price is $69 for unlimited rides), which I think is a great deal considering how much they were able to do. I also liked that there's no entry fee for non-riders and you can purchase rides à la carte. I ended up paying $12 for a go-kart ride and LOVED it We got there around 12 PM and it wasn't crowded at all. The lines were super short, so the students were able to ride things 3-4 times with no problem, which made it even more worth it. One of the best deals was the all day dining pass (you have to buy it online). For $24, you get 2 meals and a snack, which is a steal compared to the regular menu prices. Our first stop was Cluckees where we had tenders, wings, and fries. The portions were HUGE and everything was tasty, especially the fries. None of us could even finish our food! For our snack, we grabbed ice cream. The kids loved it, but it wasn't my favorite. Later, we went back to Cluckees for a chicken sandwich and fries for dinner. This time it wasn't as good as earlier. Maybe a different cook or just an off moment. We didn't spend time in the arcade and stayed mostly outside. The park is a pretty decent size with plenty to do. Even as the day went on and traffic picked up, it never felt overly packed. The staff was friendly and very laid back, which added to the relaxed vibe of the day. Overall, it was a good experience. The kids really enjoyed it. I'd give it a 3.5. Btw I think there is a bee problem there. I saw bees flying around often. Not enough to ruin the experience, but I definitely noticed them.

Entering IoA into the Port of Entry may be one of my favorite parts of visiting this park. The old…read moreworld mystical soundtrack that welcomes you and the shops with different moving and talking elements really invite you into the adventure with a feeling of excitement. If you like thrills, this park is for you. Why? Velocicoaster, Hagrid's Motorbike Adventure, and the Hulk will have all coaster-head smiling. But what about low-key story-based rides for people more on my page of wanting a chiller experience? Seuss landing is adorable (could maybe use a bit of a refresh - the hole land reminds me of the books - fun, nostalgic, meaningful, but a little worn and sticky). And the water rides? Take them away and I will riot! They are currently demolishing The Lost Continent, including Mystic Fountain, which is sort of sad. But I am so excited to see what's next!

When I consider the Universal park I'd like to visit again, this would be my first pick. There's so…read moremuch we didn't get to experience due to sharing the day between two parks. Jurrasic Park, Superheroes, Harry Potter, and classic cartoon characters are the standout themes here and the rides are made for older kids and adults. The park closed at 9p and I loved how you could get in line up until that time versus them closing entry early. Next visit we will consider the ride passes. It was an obvious difference in waiting time. SO expensive though, even without this add on. We'll be back Orlando!

Hearing about it or seeing pictures is one thing, but being there in the middle of the buildings…read moreand shops is spectacular. This is a section you can spend only a little of your time in or it might be where you spend the bulk of your time. That likely depends on how many of the shops and restaurants you want to visit in the area. You may also be fans of the magical wands and making things move in the windows. I really enjoyed seeing the pages of the book come alive as well as several visitors, dressed in robes and other Harry Potter themed clothing. This is a fantastic spot for picture taking as well. It does get quite crowded in certain areas so hold onto your patience and enjoy the experience.

I'm not a Potterhead though I did used to be a pothead and once binged all 8 movies over a couple…read moreweeks in 2014 through the haze of the ganja. And Diagon Alley is light on attractions. Its sole ride, Escape from Gringotts I gave two stars as I found it very lackluster compared to the two Potter themed thrill rides over at Islands of Adventure. But the theming in this section of the park is absolutely phenomenal and highly immersive enough to make this an easy 4 stars. The Knight Bus was fun enough for both my sister and I to get pictures by it with its friendly steward and his appropriate accent. I missed the low key entrance on our first go round. As I said I watched the movies in a cloud of smoke and didn't realize it was this secret fandom entrance/exit but the throngs passing through tipped us off. The greater density with everything packed so tightly together and its separation from the other themed areas of Universal Studios Florida makes this Potter themed area more impressive than its counterpart over at Islands of Adventure- even without a magnificent castle. The alleys, the shops, the hand painted signage, the dragon perched high shooting out that massive flame... I can only imagine how hard this hits if you're a Potter fanatic. And though Escape from Gringotts was pretty weak sauce in my estimation the queue and the theming before the ride experience was top notch. They really broke the bank on this, as with the great train ride in. Maybe if I ever go back I'll watch a Potter movie or two sober.

Colorful, full of life and BUSY! This location is a Nintendo fan's dream, but be aware that…read moreeveryone wants to visit. There are interactive areas, 3 rides, 1 hidden attraction, lots of food and character experiences and tons of photo-ops. Shoutout to the amazing Team Members with the characters, they have some serious crowd control jobs and offer great moments with Mario, Luigi, Peach and Yoshi. I do miss Donkey Kong and TOAD and I hope they return soon.

We definitely felt dropped into a Mario Bros / Super Nintendo game or movie. The space, while…read moresmall, is colorful and contain the elements you'd expect to see - Yoshi, boxes to hit for sounds and points, mushrooms, Bowser, etc. Even the gift shops are fun with their apparel and character accessories. (Did a Yoshi hat come home with us? Yes, yes it did.) This space will not be appreciated by everyone - not because we don't love Mario Bros but because it is small and full of people in every corner. It offers a few attractions and it is a huge commitment to stand in line for a short thrill. We did ride Bowser's ride. It allowed for single riders. It delays regularly though - in our case a cart had to be removed and replaced on the track. It involves a lot of technology the way the game is designed. Our family of 4 did not understand the game at all and how we even gathered points. Thankfully we didn't stand in line as long and wouldn't recommend anyone else does. Sadly the other rides were not part of our day due to the lengthy wait times and in the case of Donkey Kong, so backed up that the single rider line was closed. We witnessed a lot of happy kids running around and tapping question marked boxes. Even for my older teen / adult children they stood in the space and smiled while they took it in. It was the first place they wanted to see upon our arrival.

Dezerland Park Orlando is a cool kinda auto museum action/video mall. Ther is of course the auto…read moremuseum l, but there is bowling, an arcade, bumper cars, go carts and trampoline place. There are also shops, bars and some food as well. Nothing special, but a food time if you are a car geek or if you have kids. Everything is individual priced. Oh, they also have Lazer tag. Life hack for the drinkers out there. O07 museum bar has happy hour from 2- 4 daily. It is to the right when you walk in either door. They have $5 specialty drinks during happy hour and they are really good.

I used to love bringing my little one here as she loved Jump start but today we found out while…read morewalking up that it is permanently closed. Dezerland does have bowling , arcade games , indoor go karts and axe throwing places as well and is fun for all ages ! If you are a car fanatic , you can pay to Browse the large antique collection of Cars which is also really cool. Prices are starting to climb here so for me, I'd prefer main event or Dave and busters for the money spent here.

Overall, I think this is a great place to check out if you are in Orlando…read more We came here because we have Legoland gold passes which means we get free admission to sea life, Madame Tussaud's, and the Orlando Eye. All three of these together took up about two hours and then we were able to go to Cafe tu tu tango to get a bite to eat. This was a great half day experience while we were visiting Orlando. There was a parking garage and parking was super easy. By that time we left around 8:30 PM there were so many cars, but when we first got there at about 5 PM there were tons of spots. They do have parking spots you can pay for in the lower levels so it seems like if you're willing to pay there will always be parking. If you want free parking, you need to go earlier because this seems to be popular for nightlife. I always appreciate when there's so many attractions together that you can walk to. This place has quite a few restaurants, some shops and the attractions all in a contained area. It was very clean and when we came, there was a huge police presence, because apparently a couple weeks before there was hundreds of teenagers that descended to the area and fought. So the place was doing a really good job making sure that everything was safe. This is a place for both families and non-families alike.

Another "go big or go home" Orlando destination spot for tourists, complete with its own eye (The…read moreWheel). The entertainment complex has a variety of restaurants ranging in price , including my beloved Shake Shack. There are shops, an aquarium, was museum, arcades, live music, illusion museum, and several other places on the twenty acre complex I'm not sure about parking other than knowing it's free. I usually walk over from my hotel when in town for conferences. It's something to do in evening after sitting all day listening to speakers.

Old school (pre Disney) Marvel comics, ride, and stores in Islands of Adventure in Orlando…read more Lots of comic book themed colors and designs here, good for those who are historic comic fans and the meet & greets here looked like fun if busy lines. The Hulk coaster, Fearfall wasn't on when we were there, and the Spiderman 4D experience. End of the day could've used some cleaning, someone had thrown up or really lost a meal on the ground, no one out there cleaning it up...

Marvel Super Hero Island is located at Universal's Islands of Adventure. It's off to the left side…read moreas soon as you enter the theme park. This area opened in 1999 and is themed from the comic books! All of the buildings in the area have the comic book style architecture and has features themed from iconic Marvel Characters. I really liked how the buildings have special chrome illusion paint. Depending on where you view the building or at a different angle, with specific lighting, it changes how the buildings look! It's pretty cool. There are variety of theme park rides in Marvel Super Hero Island. The Incredible Hulk Coaster: This is a super fast ride! It goes from 0 to 40 mph in just two seconds! The ride can reach up to 67 mph though and has a variety of inversions! The Amazing Spider-Man: This is a 3D dark ride. It's a slow ride though! It combines motion simulation and special effects to immerse you in the ride! You'll get to see Spider Man and a few villains from the series! Doctor Doom Fearfall: This ride is a drop ride. You'll be launched up to close to 200 feet in the air! I try to avoid this ride though. Drop rides are a little scary for me! Storm Force Accelatron: It's a spinning ride. It's based on the X-Men series. You're helping storm defeat Magneto! There are a lot of Meet and Greets in this area! Last time I was here, I saw Wolverine and Captain America! You can also see other superheroes like Spider-man or even villains such as Doctor Doom or the Green Goblin! If you're looking for dining options there is the Captain America Diner, and some other quick service options like Aunt Anne's! There are some stores you can shop in for Marvel merchandise which offers collectible, toys, apparel and so much more! My mom and I spent a few hours at Marvel Super Hero Island. It has a lot of attractions and stores!

Out of both Minion attractions, this one was the better one. My mom is a fan of The Minions, so we…read morewanted to try both out. This was pretty cute, but I didn't feel it was worth the wait. Especially since there were lots of screaming little ones. If it's 30 minutes or less of a wait, I would definitely recommend trying it.

This is a cute ride if there's no wait. I hadn't ridden this in years. It no longer has the 3D…read moreglasses, but the ride experience was not negatively effected. It's a great ride for entire families. I would not recommend if the wait is over 20 minutes unless you're only here one day and have small kids that can't ride much.

I went to the Gator Spot located inside the Fun Spot in Orlando. I just wanted to check out the…read moregators and hold one and they are open most of the day. I was exhausted from a full day of travel the night before but their hours were flexible for me to be able to stop in on my free time. If you are just going into the gator spot you can skip the ticket counter and head right over to The Gator Spot. Staff working the gift shop have a window that opens to the entrance where they will scan your wrist band (admission is free with fun spot wrist bands). Admission just to the Gator spot is only $6. I purchased that and the option to feed the gators. I wish they had pointed out the Ultimate admission offer that you get admission, a photo & feeding for a discounted price - I did end up purchasing photos as well as some fun stuff in the gift shop. Everyone I encountered working at the Gator spot were so friendly & sweet. They have 4 alligator enclosures, photo ops, tortoise, monitor lizard & bird enclosure. It is a small are but exactly what I was looking for. I was able to feed the gators fish while going in the enclosure and posing in the pit for a photo. They had baby alligators, yearlings, 5-6 year olds and one really large guy in his own pin. At the photo area you can hold Cheesecake an Albino Alligator or Grumpy a feisty little female gator or a python. I waited for my opportunity while the photographer did some photos of the family ahead of me. It was pretty comical watching the reactions of people when they get held the animal or freaking out asking why the live animal is moving while they hold them. There was no one after me so I asked if I could get a photo with Cheesecake & Grumpy so I could make my mom a Mother's Day Card. Cheesecake was a very calm gator with very beautiful intriguing eyes, she is very mellow and would be good for those unsure about holding one. Grumpy on the other hand had been feisty all day according to the worker. She was moving and wiggling around. The group in front of me jumped up and asked why she doing that when she started wiggling. I don't know if she just liked me or if she could sense how awesome I thought this was but she was so calm when I held her, she even closed her eyes while I had her. The worker was surprised at how still she was for me. This was such a great experience and the staff was so friendly. This was a great small stop to see some gators without having to spend a lot of money or being short on time. I would highly suggest checking out if you are passing through the area.

Had some time before leaving Orlando and wanted to see some FL gators. Looked up some places and…read morethey were all far from me and found this jewel on Yelp. I called to make sure it was open since the reviews are old and sure enough it was. The place was in Fun Spot and it's a collab between gator land and them. For only $6 a person, you can get an all day pass to access gator spot and see a live feeding show, not only that but you can touch a gator and ball python snake and take pictures. I don't think you have to buy it but we did for $20 just to remember our time here. You can also feed them with alligator food you can purchase. I really enjoyed seeing the many alligators they had and the baby ones too. They have white albino one that's pretty cool. Then there is "big nasty" the biggest of all there. My fam and friends all had a good time and it was def a FL experience seeing these ancients beasts.