By: Peter Bialkowski
Living in Florida, Saint Leo students have countless options for a fun weekend. One of those options is Universal Orlando Resort, just another half hour down the parkway from Disney. Universal Orlando is a great place to visit for a one, two, or a three-day weekend, and can be budget friendly.
About an hour and a half from campus, Universal is home to three parks, two theme parks and a waterpark. If you’re driving with friends, parking is $20 until 6 p.m. Both parks have Harry Potter rides and experiences, as well as intense roller coasters and activities for the tamer crowd. Download the Universal Florida app in advance so you can familiarize yourself as well as check wait times on-the-go upon arrival.
A great way to get the most of your weekend is to stay on site in one of Universal’s six onsite hotels. Right next to the parks, Universal offers perks to their hotel guests like early park admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Unlimited Express Passes on rides for those who opt to stay in one of the three deluxe hotels on property.
Islands of Adventure, one of the two parks, has different themed sections, from Marvel Superhero Island to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Hogsmeade
Credit: Peter Bialkowski
The best way to go to Universal and save the most money is to buy an Annual Pass. Annual Pass holders get many perks and save money every time they visit the parks. However, if you’re just going for the day, a one-day one-park pass is just over $100.
Even if you aren’t looking to go into the parks, Universal is also home to Citywalk, a complex of restaurants, shops, movies and concerts right outside of Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. Not requiring admission, all you need to get into Citywalk is pay for parking or get dropped off and get through security! Many of the merchandise and food items offered in the park are also provided in Citywalk if you want a taste of Universal without paying for a park ticket.
What most average guests fail to realize when going to Universal is that the hotels are not exclusive to their guests. Citywalk offers ferry rides to four out of the six hotels, and you can enjoy the hotel pools and restaurants without staying the night! For Saint Leo students, the best value is to stay at either Cabana Bay Resort or their newest addition, Aventura. If you’re traveling with a group of friends, Aventura offers rooms from $149 a night; splitting between four friends, that’s only $37.25 per person.
Universal features six spectacular onsite hotels, the most deluxe being Loews Portofino Bay hotel, a flawless recreation of the gorgeous city in Italy. Credit: Peter Bialkowski
From its great prices to its never-ending adventures, Universal Orlando is a fun and exciting place to visit for a weekend from Leo. With theme parks, nightlife, pools and clubs, you won’t want to come back to school on Monday after visiting Universal.
