OI Universal Center

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 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 & 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 | WWoHP guide | Events | Touring plans | USF | IOA | CityWalk | Hotels

 

Read guest reviews of Universal or write your own

View our Daily Updates

12-month Universal Orlando crowd calendar

Best day of the week to visit Universal Orlando

 

The Script: TICKETS, PACKAGES, & PLANNING

• 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’s Q-bot Ride Reservation System
• 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
• The specialty drinks, meals, and desserts of Diagon Alley
• Leaky Cauldron: The grandest feast a wizard can have
• Shopping & merchandise at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley
• Shopping & merchandise at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade
• Forbidden Journey: Ultimate unofficial guide
• The very best way to experience Forbidden Journey
• Three Broomsticks & Hog’s Head: Drink in the details

 

Annual events at Universal Orlando

• A Celebration of Harry Potter 2018
• Mardi Gras 2017
• Summer Concert Series
• Halloween Horror Nights 2017 (overview & explanation)
  • Admission Guide: Tickets, Express & Tours
  • How to get HHN early admission
  • HHN 2017 touring plan
  • HHN 2017 tips, tricks, & secrets
  • HHN 2017 exclusive food and drinks
• Thanksgiving 2017
• Holidays 2017
  • Universal’s Holiday Parade 2017
  • Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular
  • Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
• New Year’s Eve 2017
• Rock the Universe 2017

 

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’s Volcano Bay Water Theme Park – complete guide and history (now open!)

Volcano Bay’s TapuTapu – complete guide

Volcano Bay’s Cabana Rentals – complete guide

Volcano Bay Tickets – complete guide

Early Park Admission to Volcano Bay

• Krakatau
  • Krakatau Aqua Coaster
  • Ko’okiri Body Plunge
  • Kala and Tai Nui Serpentine Body Slides
  • Punga Racers
• Wave Village
  • Waturi Beach
  • The Reef
  • Kohola Reef Restaurant and Social Club (quick-service)
  • Dancing Dragons Boat Bar (full-service bar)
• River Village
  • Honu ika Moana
  • Runamukka and Tot Tiki Reefs
  • Kopiko Wai Winding River
  • Whakawaiwai Eats (quick-service)
• Rainforest Village
  • Ohyah and Ohno Drop Slides
  • Maku Puihi Round Raft Rides
  • TeAwa the Fearless River
  • Taniwha Tubes
  • Puka Uli Lagoon
  • Bambu (quick-service)
  • The Feasting Frog (quick-service)
  • Kunuku Boat Bar (full-service bar)

 

Universal Studios Florida – complete guide and history

Universal’s Superstar Parade

In-park dining experience: Superstar Character Breakfast

• Production Central
  • Shrek 4D
  • Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit
  • Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem
  • Universal Music Plaza
  • Transformers: The Ride – 3D
  • Universal Studios Classic Monsters Cafe (quick-service)
• New York
  • Revenge of the Mummy
  • Race through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon
  • The Blues Brothers Show
  • Finnegan’s Bar & Grill (full-service)
  • Louie’s Italian Restaurant (quick-service)
• San Francisco
  • Lombard’s Seafood Grille (full-service)
  • Richter’s Burger Co. (quick-service)
• 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
  • Fear Factor Live
  • Men in Black: Alien Attack
  • Welcome to Springfield, USA
  • The Simpsons Ride
  • Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ‘n Hurl
  • Bumblebee Man’s Taco Truck (quick-service)
  • Duff Brewery (limited-service bar)
  • Moe’s Tavern (limited-service bar)
  • Simpsons Fast Food Blvd – overview
    • Cletus’ Chicken Shack (quick-service)
    • Flaming Moe’s (quick-service)
    • The Frying Dutchman (quick-service)
    • Krusty Burger (quick-service)
    • Lisa’s Teahouse of Horror (quick-service)
    • Luigi’s (quick-service)
• Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone
  • Animal Actors on Location
  • A Day in the Park with Barney
  • Curious George Goes To Town
  • Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster
  • Fievel’s Playland
  • E.T. Adventure
• Hollywood
  • Horror Make-Up Show
  • Cafe La Bamba (quick-service)
  • Mel’s Drive-In (quick-service)
  • Beverly Hills Boulangerie (quick-service)
  • Williams of Hollywood Prop Shop (store)
• Super Nintendo World (coming soon)

 

Islands of Adventure – the full tour

• Skull Island: Reign of Kong
• Port of Entry
  • Confisco Grille & Backwater Bar (full-service)
  • Croissant Moon Bakery (quick-service)
• Marvel Super Hero Island
  • The Incredible Hulk Coaster
  • Storm Force Accelatron
  • Doctor Doom’s Fearfall
  • The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man
  • Captain America Diner (quick-service)
• Toon Lagoon
  • Me Ship, The Olive
  • Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges
  • Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls
  • Comic Strip Cafe (quick-service)
  • Blondie’s: Home of the Dagwood (quick-service)
• Jurassic Park
  • Pteranodon Flyers
  • Camp Jurassic
  • Jurassic Park: River Adventure
  • Jurassic Park Discovery Center
  • The Burger Digs (quick-service)
  • Thunder Falls Terrace (quick-service)
• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade
  • Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
  • Flight of the Hippogriff
  • Triwizard Spirit Rally & Frog Choir
  • Ollivander’s Wand Shop – Hogsmeade
  • The Three Broomsticks & Hog’s Head (quick-service)
• The Lost Continent
  • The Eighth Voyage of Sindbad Stunt Show
  • The Mystic Fountain
  • Poseidon’s Fury
  • Mythos (full-service)
• Seuss Landing
  • The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride!
  • Caro-Seuss-el
  • One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish
  • Oh! The Stories You’ll Hear
  • Cat in the Hat
  • If I Ran the Zoo
  • Circus McGurkus Cafe Stoo-pendous (quick-service)
  • Green Eggs and Ham Cafe (quick-service)

 

Universal CityWalk

• Restaurants
  • Full-service restaurants
    • Antojitos Authentic Mexican Food
    • Bob Marley – A Tribute to Freedom
    • Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
    • The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar
    • Emeril’s Orlando
    • Hard Rock Cafe Orlando
    • Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Orlando
    • NBC Sports Grill & Brew
    • Pat O’Brien’s
    • Toothsome Chocolate Emporium
    • VIVO Italian Kitchen
  • 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)
  • Breakfast options at Universal CityWalk
• Shows and other entertainment
  • AMC Universal Cineplex 20 with IMAX
  • Blue Man Group
  • Hollywood Drive-In Golf

 

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
  • Portofino Bay: Rooms
  • Portofino Bay: Public spaces & Harbor Piazza
  • Portofino Bay: Mandara Spa, pool areas & smaller piazzas
  • Portofino Bay: Dining & lounges
  • Portofino Bay: Distance from the parks
• Hard Rock Hotel Orlando: Live the rock ‘n roll lifestyle
  • Hard Rock: Rooms
  • Hard Rock: Public spaces
  • Hard Rock: Pool area
  • Hard Rock: Dining & lounges
  • Hard Rock: Distance from the parks
• Loews Royal Pacific Resort: Your South Seas escape is waiting
  • Royal Pacific: Rooms
  • Royal Pacific: Public spaces
  • Royal Pacific: Pool area
  • Royal Pacific: Dining & lounges
  • Royal Pacific: Distance from the parks
• Loews Sapphire Falls Resort: A paradise where blue waterfalls cascade across lush grounds
  • Sapphire Falls: Rooms
  • Sapphire Falls: Public spaces
  • Sapphire Falls: Pool area
  • Sapphire Falls: Dining & lounges
    • Amatista Cookhouse
    • Drhum Club Kantine
    • New Dutch Trading Co.
    • Strong Water Tavern
  • Sapphire Falls: Distance from the parks
• Cabana Bay Beach Resort: Splash back to the 1950s & ’60s
  • Cabana Bay: Rooms
  • Cabana Bay: Public spaces
  • Cabana Bay: Pool areas
  • Cabana Bay: Dining & lounges
  • Cabana Bay: Distance from the parks
• Loews Aventura Hotel: A sleek and streamlined resort experience (opening August 1, 2018)
• On-site hotel discount for annual passholders & the logistics of checking in

 

Off-site hotels around Universal Orlando

• DoubleTree across from the entrance to Universal – discount
• Universal Orlando Partner Hotels within walking distance
• Walking from Holiday Inn or DoubleTree to Universal Orlando
• Walking from International Drive to Universal Orlando

 

The Prop Graveyard: TOURING THE EXTINCT ATTRACTIONS

• Twister: Ride It Out
• Beetlejuice’s Graveyard Revue
• Dragon Challenge
  • Dragon Challenge: Secrets of the Queue
• Universal’s Cinematic Spectacular: 100 Years of Movie Memories
  • Cinematic Spectacular Dining Experience
• Terminator 2 3D: Battle across Time