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
Orlando Informer Travel – let us help book your Orlando vacation
Read guest reviews of Universal or write your own
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
- Dragon Challenge: Secrets of the queue
- Three Broomsticks & Hog’s Head: Drink in the details
Annual events at Universal Orlando
- A Celebration of Harry Potter 2017
- Mardi Gras 2017
- Summer Concert Series
- Halloween Horror Nights 2017 (overview & explanation)
- Thanksgiving 2016
- Holidays 2017
- New Year’s Eve 2016
- 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
- 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
Universal Studios Florida – complete guide and history
Universal’s Cinematic Spectacular: 100 Years of Movie Memories
In-park dining experiences – Superstar Breakfast & Cinematic Dining
- Production Central
- New York
- San Francisco
- 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
- Super Nintendo World (coming soon)
Islands of Adventure – the full tour
- Skull Island: Reign of Kong
- Port of Entry
- Marvel Super Hero Island
- Toon Lagoon
- Jurassic Park
- Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade
- Lost Continent
- Seuss Landing
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)
- 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
- Cabana Bay Beach Resort: Splash back to the 1950s & ’60s
- 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
