Insider Pages Reviews for Universal Studios

5 Stars: Plan a couple days here (by Darell B.)

Darell B. — Mon, 11 Jul 2005 00:30:00 GMT

Universal is a outstanding park and a great place for the family to come I reccommend bringing kids that are older than 5 to the park as they will be able to remember it and the rides are more for older children. If you go "In" season to visit make sure you plan ahead. Bring bottled water, plenty of cash for food, activities, and souvenirs, and be prepared to wait in line. All the rides here are worth trying at least once. Most of the opinions are based on what you like to do and what interests you, so don't not try something because you heard from someone else it wasn't that great because you make like it.

5 Stars: Universal (by Janet C.)

Janet C. — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 23:35:00 GMT

It was our absolute favorite place! It attributes different movies, and puts you 'right there'. Back to the future - made you feel like you were zooming! Terminator and Alfred Hitchcock's, The Birds, was absolutely awesome! We kept ducking in our seats as if we were being shot at or the birds were attacking us. At the end of the evening, they put on a Mardi Gras Parade where they threw beads and candy to you. You buy a day's pass, and get the second day free! We truly enjoyed Universal!

5 Stars: Awesome Park (by Michelle B.)

Michelle B. — Sat, 19 Nov 2005 16:26:00 GMT

Let me just start by saying that this was an awesome theme park for the WHOLE family. It had something for everyone. There were tons of Characters for "Character Meet & Greet", there were rides for older children as well as rides for the adults. They also had show for the middle aged people. Like I Love Lucy! There are many stores to by things and plety of places to grab a quick bit of eat (most of them are kinda expensive, but well worth it!). I recommend this park to anyone visiting Orlando!

5 Stars: SPANDACULAR (by Tara P.)

Tara P. — Sun, 12 Feb 2006 06:30:00 GMT

WOW! This is one fabulous place to visit! Don't just do Disney - you simply MUST visit Universal Studios as well!
We took our daughter (age 6) and she loved it! I don't know if I'd take kids much younger, but the rides are amazing...especially Shrek and ET! Those are definitely a MUST SEE/RIDE when you're there!
Food is great, albeit a bit pricey, but that's the way theme parks are ingeneral.
Great selection of restaurants for the big kids and the little kids!
Be sure to go to Margaritaville for a fun filled time as well!
A++++ all the way!

PROS: Fun Fun Fun
CONS: Pricey

4 Stars: Universal Studios - theme park (by Deb T.)

Deb T. — Sun, 06 Nov 2005 11:09:00 GMT

Gotta love the huge Universal globe -- really does look like something that could be climbed -- but avoid the temptation. There are some great rides -- I loved the 3-D stuff. I totally enjoyed the back-stage things. You have an opportunity to act in a short skit of things like Tool Time -- be sure to take someone to tape your premiere performance.

PROS: Rides exciting, visuals great.
CONS: Rides are too short, lines are horribly long.

5 Stars: Islands of Advnture- full of adventure (by Melissa G.)

Melissa G. — Mon, 27 Jun 2005 23:19:00 GMT

If you like roller coasters this is the place to go in Orlando! Take a ride with the Hulkster or take a trip with the dueling dragons. I, myself liked Spiderman and if you wanna cool off take a water ride on Popeye. That one is my favorite!!! Be prepeared to get soaked though, but is well worth it.
The thing I liked the best about this place, was that if you have small children, they have a place where one parent can stand with the kids, while the other rides, and then when they get back they can switch off without getting back in line. What a deal.

PROS: Lines moe really quick!
CONS: Smoking in designated areas only.

5 Stars: Awesome (by Greg N.)

Greg N. — Mon, 07 Nov 2005 06:00:00 GMT

If you're in Orlando, you have to check out Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. They have so many great rides like the studio tour, MIB, Back to the Future, Dueling Dragons, the Hulk, and Jurassic Park. Plan to spend two days between the two parks. They are really a lot of fun for all ages, and Islands of Adventure is especially fun for roller coaster lovers.

3 Stars: Not ecstatic (by Emily B.)

Emily B. — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 21:49:00 GMT

I've heard so many amazing things about this park that my expectations were high. I believe I circled the park dozens of times thinking, there's got to be more things we're missing. The kids loved the "Honey I shrunk the kids" play place, and we liked the "Tower of Terror", just wish it was a little longer, you wait 30 minutes for a 3 minute ride. The shows were cute and the scenery is cool, but I was expecting more.

4 Stars: well they should smile... (by lori f.)

lori f. — Wed, 11 Jan 2006 00:11:00 GMT

universal studios is a very nice park to go to, i would go there any day of the week, the only complaint i can think of all the times that i have been there is that the workers need to smile more... they look like the only reason they are there is to bring a paycheck home, which i can understand, but at least look like you like the job, lol

PROS: very nice park
CONS: workers look unhappy

5 Stars: Universal Studios is a great Theme Park to visit (by Cathy M.)

Cathy M. — Fri, 22 Jul 2005 20:12:00 GMT

I have to say that Universal Studios is one of my all time favorite
theme parks to visit in Orlando. I have a two year pass and never get tired of going there. The food and concession prices are much more reasonable than Disney. There are a wide variety of great rides such as the Mummy and Earthquake. At night for a limited time, thery have a very nice fireworks display that goes off over the Universal lagoon.

5 Stars: Universal Studios (by Melissa M.)

Melissa M. — Fri, 20 May 2005 02:38:00 GMT

This is my favorite place in Orlando. It has everything from Roller Coasters to kids rides to game rooms. There is 2 parks. Universal Orlando and Island of Adventures. IOA is the one with all of the roller coasters. They also have Citywalk which is outside of the theme parks. That has night clubs, Restaurants, and Shops galore.

5 Stars: Islands of Adventure (by Ann M.)

Ann M. — Wed, 30 Nov 2005 14:36:00 GMT

We went to Islands of Adventure in mid-January, and the only negative thing that I can say is that the lines were so short that we actually ran out of things to do! The coasters are awesome. We especially loved the Hulk! Nothing compares to riding that the first time. Spiderman is so well done. You'll need to ride it a couple times before you can really take everything in. The kids section was fun even for adults, and there are plently of characters walking around to get your picture taken with!

4 Stars: Fun Theme Park (by Terri E.)

Terri E. — Wed, 27 Jul 2005 18:01:00 GMT

This is a great theme park where you can actually do all the rides in one day. The Mummy is not to be missed-very thrilling. Some of the lines are long, but for the most part worth it. Kids can have fun in the Fievel and Curious George playground, as well as be entertained by the Barney show and Animal show. An all-around good theme park.

4 Stars: Islands of Adventure ~ A Roller Coaster Delight (by Lori T.)

Lori T. — Thu, 12 May 2005 22:48:00 GMT

Islands of Adventure is so named because the park is broken up into ummm islands. Imagine that! They're all arranged in a circle around a rather nice lake. Pretty, that.

Marvel Super Hero Island has the best coaster in the park: the one, the only Incredible Hulk Coaster! Booya! Hulk lives up to its reputation as being a major contender in the national coaster contest. It may not measure up to Magic Mountain's X or Cedar Point's Millenium, but don't write this one off completely. It's a damn good coaster. We're talkin' Zero-to-40MPH in two seconds. DO keep your head against that headrest! You're then thrown into a serious of loops, drops, and helixes similar to Busch Garden's Alpengeist.

The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman was a nice surprise. This is one where you put on 3D glasses and ride through the streets of the city.

Toon Lagoon and Seuss Landing are where you will mostly find quite a few kiddy rides.

The Lost Continent has Dueling Dragons! Ignore the naysayers. This coaster is the bomb. I loved it. You snake through an old abandonded castle complete with crossed swords on the cavern walls and whatnot and then at the end go to the left to ride the Red Dragon(Fire) or to the right to get the Blue Dragon (Ice). Granted, the high speed here is a mere 55MPH with the highest drop coming in at a lowly 125 Ft, but it's how it goes about it that makes it fun. The tracks parallel and inter-loop and have a few near misses with walls here and there.. all of which gives the illusion of a much more exciting track.

If you're into roller coasters, Islands of Adventure is a 'must do.'

PROS: Sweet coasters
CONS: Smoking only allowed in designated areas

5 Stars: Universal Studios (by Denise j.)

Denise j. — Sun, 10 Jul 2005 00:48:00 GMT

This is definite must do when in orlando. We never tire of this park and have been many times. The main theme here is based on movies. They have the Terminator, which is a sit down, awesome 10 min. presentation. You will be suprised of the outcome of it. Another favorite of mine is Men In Black, where your team battles another team. I could go on forever about this park. It is definitely a must do.

PROS: Ability to use fast pass to come back later and move to first in line.
CONS: