Welcome to the OI Universal Center!
Prepare to upgrade your adventure to Universal Orlando Resort with our obsessively updated collection of Universal insider information and expert advice.
The OI Universal Center is home to our free next-generation encyclopedia of Universal Orlando vacation-planning information. It contains over 200 pages covering Universal’s theme and water parks, hotels, and more. In addition, we offer our readers six extraordinary advantages over traditional guidebooks and other websites:
- Nearly same-day updates to our insider information as changes take place in the parks
- Comprehensive analysis of all construction projects and anticipated resort developments
- Immersive multimedia, including more than 10,000 full-screen photos and hours of HD video
- Intense, first-hand coverage of annual events with advice written based on this year’s activities
- Over a thousand “real guest reviews” of Universal’s theme park attractions and dining venues
- In-park photo updates broadcast live from Universal Orlando each and every week
Last year, over three million families used our website to plan the perfect vacation and gain complete confidence in their knowledge of the parks. As we now celebrate an even bigger and busier year, we are very proud to take our place as the premier independent resource for guests visiting Universal Orlando Resort.
First-time visitors, please read this page:
How to use our FREE online guide to plan your Universal vacation
OI Universal Center table of contents
Skip to…
The Script | The Set | Wizarding World guide | Events | Touring plans | USF | IOA | VB | CityWalk | Hotels | Prop Graveyard
Read guest reviews of Universal or submit your own
12-month Universal Orlando crowd calendar
Best day of the week to visit Universal Orlando
The Script: TICKETS, PACKAGES, & PLANNING
- How to save on flights to Orlando
- The best Orlando theme parks by age group
- Which Universal Orlando theme park is better?
- How many days to spend at Universal Orlando?
- Maps, Rider’s Guide, & vacation brochure
- Universal Orlando annual passes – complete insider’s guide
- Attraction Assistance & Guest Assistance Passes
- Universal vacation packages – an insider’s guide
- Top 12 easiest ways to save time & money at Universal
- Ride wait times based on crowd levels
- Universal Express Passes – complete insider’s guide
- The secret to getting UNLIMITED Express Passes
- Universal Dining Plans – complete insider’s guide
- Dining reservations at Universal Orlando
- Parking & Universal’s transportation hub
- Shuttles, taxis, & towncars: Transportation recommendations
- Orlando average monthly temperatures
- What to pack for your vacation
The Set: MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR VACATION
- Shopping & merchandise at Universal Orlando
- Visiting USF with kids – a complete guide
- Visiting IOA with kids – a complete guide
- Rental & ride lockers at Universal
- Characters at Universal’s theme parks
- Child Swap at Universal’s thrill rides
- MIB: How to max out your score at 999,999
- Refillable cups, popcorn buckets, & Coke Freestyle
- Free internet access at Universal Orlando
- Phone Charging at Universal Orlando
- My Universal Photos & ride photos
- 20 ideas for free or inexpensive entertainment around Orlando
- Breakfast at Universal Orlando Resort
Insider’s Guide to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
- Only guaranteed ways to beat the crowds at the Wizarding World
- How to ensure your trip to the Wizarding World is a success!
- Early Park Admission to the Wizarding World – a complete guide
- Return tickets & standby line to enter the Wizarding World
- Interactive wands & spell-casting in the Wizarding World
- Complete insider’s guide to Butterbeer
- The specialty drinks, meals, and desserts of Diagon Alley
- Leaky Cauldron: The grandest feast a wizard can have
- Three Broomsticks & Hog’s Head: Drink in the details
- Shopping & merchandise at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley
- Shopping & merchandise at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade
Annual events at Universal Orlando
- Rock the Universe 2019
- Mardi Gras 2019
- Easter 2018
- Halloween Horror Nights 2019 (overview & explanation)
- Thanksgiving 2018
- Holidays 2018
- New Year’s Eve 2018
Universal Orlando touring plans
- Universal Studios & Islands of Adventure 1-day touring plan
- Ultimate Universal Studios 1-day touring plan
- Ultimate Islands of Adventure 1-day touring plan
- Volcano Bay touring plan
- 3-day touring plan for on-site guests: Day 1
- 3-day touring plan for on-site guests: Day 2
- 3-day touring plan for on-site guests: Day 3
- Wizarding World of Harry Potter touring plan
- Design your own Universal Orlando touring plans
- OI Priority List: Universal Studios Florida
- OI Priority List: Islands of Adventure
Universal Studios Florida – complete guide and history
Universal Orlando’s Cinematic Celebration
- Production Central
- New York
- San Francisco
- The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley
- Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
- The Hogwarts Express
- Tales of Beedle the Bard & Celestina Warbeck
- Ollivander’s Wand Shop – Diagon Alley
- London waterfront
- Diagon Alley shopping
- Horizont Alley
- Carkitt Market
- Knockturn Alley
- The Leaky Cauldron (quick-service)
- Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream Parlor (quick-service)
- World Expo
- Springfield, USA
- Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone
- Hollywood
Universal’s Islands of Adventure – the full tour
- Port of Entry
- Marvel Super Hero Island
- Toon Lagoon
- Skull Island: Reign of Kong
- Jurassic Park
- The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade
- Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
- Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure (opening June 13, 2019)
- Flight of the Hippogriff
- Triwizard Spirit Rally & Frog Choir
- Ollivander’s Wand Shop – Hogsmeade
- The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle
- Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle (opening 2019)
- The Three Broomsticks & Hog’s Head (quick-service)
- Honeydukes
- The Lost Continent
- Seuss Landing
Universal’s Volcano Bay – complete guide and history
Volcano Bay’s TapuTapu – complete guide
Volcano Bay’s Cabana Rentals – complete guide
Volcano Bay Tickets – complete guide
Early Park Admission to Volcano Bay
Super Nintendo World (coming soon)
Universal CityWalk
- Restaurants
- Full-service restaurants
- Quick-service restaurants
- Bread Box Handcrafted Sandwiches
- CityWalk food court: BK Whopper Bar, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Panda Express
- Cold Stone Creamery
- Fusion Bistro Sushi & Sake Bar (coming soon)
- Hot Dog Hall of Fame
- Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt (coming soon)
- Red Oven Pizza Bakery
- Starbucks Coffee (coming soon)
- Voodoo Doughnut
- Breakfast options at Universal CityWalk
- Shows and other entertainment
On-site hotels at Universal Orlando (general information)
- Comparing Universal Orlando’s on-site hotels
- Loews Portofino Bay Hotel: Jet away to the Italian Riviera
- Hard Rock Hotel Orlando: Live the rock-‘n-roll lifestyle
- Loews Royal Pacific Resort: Your South Seas escape is waiting
- Loews Sapphire Falls Resort: A paradise where blue waterfalls cascade across lush grounds
- Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort: Splash back to the 1950s & ’60s
- Universal’s Aventura Hotel: A sleek and streamlined resort experience
- Universal’s Endless Summer Resort: Never-ending fun in the sun (opening June 27, 2019)
- On-site hotel discount for annual passholders & the logistics of checking in
The Prop Graveyard: TOURING THE EXTINCT ATTRACTIONS
- Universal Studios Florida
- Islands of Adventure
- Resort-wide
- CityWalk
- Annual events
