Universal Studios Florida

Overview
Universal Studios Florida (USF) was the first major park in Orlando to compete with Disney directly and on a similar scale. USF tries to capture a Hollywood sensibility, but very litte is actually filmed here, so instead of a working studio that incorporates some theme park rides (the genesis of the original Universal park in Hollywood), the park in Orlando offers a glossy, touristy series of attractions that recall, celebrate, or otherwise refer to prominent Universal movies.

How to Visit
This resort area is situated several miles north of WDW along Interstate-4. One tricky element to visiting is the way cars are routed off I-4. Electronic signs above the freeway dictate which off-ramp is CURRENTLY advised for visiting Universal, and the answer changes based on time of day. Following the signs, though, is pretty easy. You'll end up in one of two giant parking structures. Note: the Preferred parking is definitely not worth the expense.

Planning Your Day (aka, “Touring” the Park)

1. Make use of Universal EXPRESS, which is a ride-reservation system. The system works like Disney's FASTPASS: feed in your admission ticket, and out will pop a piece of paper with your "Return Time" stamped on it. You are now free to do other things - it's as if a virtual copy of you is standing in line. One point of confusion: EXPRESS itself is free for anyone. There is a second kind of EXPRESS which is not free; a very small amount of "unlimited" EXPRESS passes are sold each morning. These special kinds let you hold an EXPRESS pass for multiple rides at once. Lastly, people staying at the Universal-owned hotels also get a kind of unlimited EXPRESS pass. If avoiding lines is important to you, and you are visiting in the busy season, then staying at a Universal hotel might be an excellent idea.

2. Start early. Better yet, stay late. Crowds at Universal and IOA drop off faster than similar crowds at Disney parks, and lines are shorter late in the day.

3. The star attraction right now is the new Mummy ride. A runner-up would be the Shrek movie, which does not use EXPRESS and thus has long lines throughout the day. Make use of EXPRESS for Men in Black and Back to the Future; most other rides can be seen without needing reservations.

Where to Eat
If an extraordinary dining experience isn’t your goal, by all means, make use of the frequent fast-food options in the park, including carts along the street. However, if you’re looking for some variation, here are some ideas:

1. Lombard's Seafood Grille offers the park's premier table-service location, serving lobster, seafood, and sandwiches.

2. For a taste outside the usual theme park fare, try Finnegan's Bar and Grill for Irish food, or Cafe La Bamba for rotisserie and ribs.

Our Bottom-Line Recommendations
USF attempts to appeal to a wide audience, with some success. There are things here for every age group. One valid complaint, though, is that so much is show or movie based, leaving the actual number of rides relatively small. It's a fun park, especially for the first-time visitor, and the contrast to Disney can be refreshing on an extended vacation.